BRAVE BEN HEADS HOME; Antigua honeymoon: Ex-fiancee tells how Ben always fought to protect others I'll be teaching my son about modern day heroes.. people like Benjamin Luke Mullany - FORMER FIANCE REBECCA GOSLING.

Byline: BY LUCY THORNTON

BEN Mullany's attempts to save his wife in Antigua came as no surprise to one person - his former fiancee said he had always been a hero.

Rebecca Gosling, 29, who met Ben at university in 2001, said he had spent his life trying to protect other people - first in the army and then in the police.

The teacher, who spoke out as the tragic bridegroom was flown home to Britain last night, said: "He put his life on the line for other people all through his career.

"I want his family to know that I will be teaching my son about modern day heroes like him.

"Teaching him about people like Ben. Ordinary people that do the extraordinary things, who would do anything to protect those whom they love.

"People with conviction to stand up for what they believe in - people like Benjamin Luke Mullany.

Rebecca, who lives with her new partner and their six-month old baby, recalled how Ben had been shot as a soldier in Northern Ireland and was awarded a medal for his NATO peace-keeping role in Sarajevo.

She said sensitive Ben had to quit his police job after telling a mum her son had died of a drug overdose because he could not stand being the bearer of bad news.

Ben, 31, was scheduled to arrive at Cardiff International Airport at 2am this morning after being cared for by a critical care medical team during the 16-hour flight.

He was then due to be taken to a hospital in Swansea - just ten miles from the home he shared with Dr Catherine Mullany, shot dead by the armed robbers.

Doctors in Antigua confirmed newlywed Ben is "brain dead" after he was gunned down trying to save Catherine in their suite at Coco's Hotel on Sunday.

Devastated parents Marilyn and Cynlais are clinging to the hope that specialist doctors in Britain could help him survive.

Rebecca, who split with Ben in 2004, said she is devastated for Ben's parents. She said: "His mum is such a wonderful caring person, I even sent her a Mother's Day card one year just from me."

"I dread to think how terrible it is for his mum. I'm praying he pulls through.

She said of Ben, who was nicknamed "Muscles Mullany" by his police colleagues because of his love of the gym: "He deserved a happy life. I feel so numb, this should have been his time to be happy.

"When we split up Ben left his medal here but now I am going to send it to his mum to give her hope. The medal says, 'In Service of Peace and Freedom'."

Rebecca was studying at the University of Wales when she met Ben during a student working holiday in the US in 2001.

She said: "Ben and I met when I worked at the girl's camp and he worked at the boy's camp next door," she explained.

"On one of our nights off sat around a camp fire in the beautiful New Hampshire forest our eyes met. I fell for him. The room would light up when he walked in and he had friends all over the world."

On their return to Britain she got to know his parents Marilyn and Cynlais and his 23-year-old brother Adam at their South Wales home, just 30 miles from university.

"His family were wonderful," she said. "His mum, dad and brother became like a second family, they're incredibly close.

"I can still picture their gorgeous house in the mountainside overlooking the Brecon Beacons. I thought 'wow'. Their golden retriever called Lad would come running down the track, barking like mad.

"Sadly I heard Ben and Catherine, who he had met through his best friend, had just bought a house in the same village and were planning to do it up - just like his mum and dad had done before them."

Ben, a talented rugby player who had hoped to play for his country until he injured his shoulder, moved from Wales with Rebecca, who is from Sheffield. They got engaged and Ben, who has just finished studying to be a physiotherapist, started working for South Yorkshire police. She said: "He excelled - but he was unhappy even after the first few days in the job. He couldn't cope with the pressures of the job and dealing with the reality of human misery everyday." She said after he quit it put a strain on their relationship and they struggled with finances. "He wanted to go to Wales to be with his family. I've not seen him since the day he left on St Valentine's Day 2004. I missed him terribly."

She added: "When I heard about what had happened my whole world was turned upside down."

Trainee physiotherapist Ben will be assessed by brain surgeons at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.

If they cannot help, Ben's family would then face the heartbreak of turning off his life-support machine.

Consultant neurosurgeon Helen Fernandes at Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge, said: "A bullet injury to the head is the worst brain injury you can get. Survival rates are quite low. Survival without disability would be very, very low."

Antigua's police commissioner Gary Nelson said he believed the shooting may be linked to the murder of a young man in the capital St John's two months ago.

But he admitted: "There seems to be a code of silence against the police."

Rebecca has not received any payment for this interview.

CAPTION(S):

Holberton Hospital, St. John's, Antigua, 31/7/08 JOURNEY The intensive care team arrive at the hospital in Antigua to pick up Ben for the 16-hour flight back to Britain; V.C. Bird International Airport 31/7/08 HOMEWARD The aircraft carrying stricken Ben prepares for take off. The flight was due to arrive in Cardiff this morning; COUPLE Ben and Rebecca on night they got engaged; PRIDE Ben's Nato peace-keeping medal; PRAYERS Rebecca Gosling with son Oliver yesterday Picture: PHIL SPENCER; PARENTS At hospital