AN 18-YEAR old rifleman who dreamed of being a soldier "ever since he was a little boy" has been severely injured in Afghanistan and airlifted back to hospital in the UK.

Kyle Baker, from Sedbury, was just over a month into his first tour of duty in Helmand with 3rd Battalion the Rifles when he was injured by a "single gun shot".

He was flown back to Britain last Friday and is being treated at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, where his condition is said to be "stable".

The news was broken to his family on the doorstep of their Sedbury home last Thursday.

Mum, Rachel Baker, who has been at his side since Saturday has vowed to stay in Birmingham to be by his side.

"My first thought, my main aim was to go and see him and be with him.

"I'll be staying up there all the time. The army are taking me up and bringing me back, they're being very good. He's not conscious yet, but that's mostly because of the sedatives."

Kyle, a former Wyedean School student is well known in Sedbury, especially being one of two sets of twin boys.

"He'd do anything for anyone," said Rachel. "A lot of the younger local kids do look up to him. He wanted to go into the army ever since he was a little boy. He was in the cadets, sailed with the Tall Ships Trust and then went back on a second voyage as a disabled helper. He played rugby for his school and county, and helped out at the community centre in Lydney.

"He then went into the Rifles on the 14th September 2008 and passed out at Catterick in February. Some time in June he was with 3 Rifles at their base in Edinburgh and started his first tour of duty in Afghanistan in October."

3 Rifles Battle Group took over from 2 Rifles in the town of Sangin on October 19. Since Kyle Baker was injured the unit have announced the death of one of his colleagues, 20 year old Rifleman Samuel John Bassett, from Devon, who was caught in a blast on Sunday (November 8).