Ski champ soldier died on celebratory Llanelli evening

A 24-year-old pedestrian killed after an incident with a taxi in Llanelli was a soldier home on a week's leave, says the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

L/Cpl Jonathan Gouldsmith, of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, from Haverfordwest, died after the incident on Sunday 3 April.

The "talented sportsman" was celebrating a services skiing championship win on the night he died.

Dyfed-Powys Police continue to appeal for witnesses to the fatal incident.

L/Cpl Gouldsmith died later at Morriston hospital in Swansea.

Police officers have said they have spoken to the taxi driver and want to speak to anyone else who may have seen the collision or seen two men walking along Trostre Road in Llanelli at around 4am that morning.

In a statement released on behalf of L/Cpl Gouldsmith's family, the MoD said one of those left grieving his death was his twin brother Christopher.

The statement read: "Jonathan was a former pupil at Mary Immaculate School and later Tasker Milward School, where he was a very popular sporting figure.

"In their younger days both Jonathan and Christopher were excellent cross country runners and this lead onto cross country skiing later in their army careers.

L/Cpl Gouldsmith was a rare character - not only a supremely fit and talented sportsman but also a keen tradesman and enthusiastic junior non-commissioned officer”

"Both met at a competition without realising the other was there in 2009 in France, and so the battle of REME against Royal Engineer was pretty fierce!

"Jonathan then went on to join the Great Britain Development team and had high hopes of an Olympic dream.

"He had been home for a week's leave after destroying all challenges in the REME Ski Biathlon Championships, where he won the overall trophy, hence the fated celebratory evening out.

"After his sad passing, his army superiors have since kindly renamed the trophy in his memory.

"His parents, brother, sisters and relatives are truly devastated with the loss of their bright, shining star - without him the world is a much darker place."

Lt Col Andrew Stuart, Commanding Officer of 4 Close Support Battalion, Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, said: "L/Cpl Gouldsmith was a rare character - not only a supremely fit and talented sportsman but also a keen tradesman and enthusiastic junior non-commissioned officer.

"L/Cpl Gouldsmith made a significant impact during his service and his loss is felt keenly by his friends in 4 Close Support Battalion REME, his fellow recovery mechanics and those he met (and invariably beat) whilst skiing."

L/Cpl Gouldsmith's funeral will be held at St Davids Cathedral, St Davids, on Thursday.