Brave dad died in gun battle trying to save men.

Byline: ANDY PASSANT

A POPULAR dad was shot dead while rushing to the rescue of workers caught up in a terrifying gun battle in Africa.

Father-of-three Carl Nefdt, from North Yorkshire, was just 31 when he was killed in a firefight while trying to save his men in Uganda.

Mr Nefdt, who lived in Staithes, near Whitby with his wife and young family, was working in the East African country when the tragedy happened.

He had joined a rescue team which had gone to the aid of workers who had been fired upon by heavily armed gunmen.

The attackers, believed to be from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, had opened fire on a barge being used to carry out oil exploration on a lake.

Mr Nefdt, a keen rugby fan who played for Guisborough Rugby Club, had been helping to carry out a seismic survey on Lake Albert in Uganda.

The gunmen had claimed the barge, operated by Heritage Oil, had entered Congolese waters.

Mr Nefdt, who worked for IMC Geophysics International, joined security guards and Ugandan soldiers when they went to help those coming under attack.

But he was fatally wounded after being shot with a single round, believed to be from an automatic rifle. Mr Nefdt never regained consciousness and died from his injuries.

Ugandan and Congolese commanders later blamed each other for starting the firefight.

This week an inquest into his death was held in Middlesbrough, nearly two years after the killing in August 2007.

Pathologist Dr Jan Lowe, based at the University Hospital of North Tees, said Mr Nefdt had a gunshot wound involving the right arm and right side of his chest.

It was consistent with a single bullet, probably from a rifle, although he could not say what calibre the round was.

He added: "I do not think this was a short range wound."

Dr Lowe said in his opinion the injury was "non-survivable".

Evidence of identification was given by his stepfather, Gordon Hugill, of Cliff Road, Staithes.

Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield said it was clear that, although a long way from home, Mr Nefdt was being conscientious, responsible and caring in carrying out his duties towards the men he was responsible for.

The rescue team had been fired on and had fired back in self-defence. There was an exchange of fire and in the process Mr Nefdt was shot, said the coroner.

Mr Sheffield said it would appear extremely likely that it took place "well within Ugandan waters".

He recorded a verdict that Mr Nefdt had been unlawfully killed.

After the verdict Mr Nefdt's mum Joyce and stepdad Gordon paid tribute to him.

Joyce said: "It has taken nearly two years. I had to hear it for myself.

"Basically he died saving his men.

It is just a waste of a good life."

She said her son had worked all over and loved Africa, helping to set up a school in Uganda.

Gordon said: "He would do anything for anybody.

"He was a great lad. He was good in every way."Basically he died saving his men. It is just a waste of a good life - mum Joyce paying tribute to her son Carl Nefdt, pictured left, following an inquest into his death that recorded a verdict of unlawful killing after he was fatally wounded in a gun battle in 2007