The family of a former University of Leicester student who died during SAS selection training in the Brecon Beacons have said they are devastated but feel he lost his life following his dream.
They revealed that Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, who died in searing temperatures in Wales at the weekend, had been about to begin a new post in the office of the education secretary.
In a statement released via the Ministry of Defence, the family, who are from north Wales, said: "We would like to thank all our and Craig's friends for their kind thoughts and support.
"We are all devastated at the loss of our beloved Craig. This has left a massive hole in all our lives.
"We wholeheartedly supported Craig in his military endeavours and it gives us some comfort, though great sadness, that he died in the pursuit of his dream.
"Next month Craig was due to start a new post in the office of the secretary of state for education and we were all very proud of him."
Mr Roberts, 24, who lived in London and was a maths teacher in Lewisham, graduated from the University of Leicester's economics department in 2010.
Tutors from the university have paid tribute to the former Leicester student.
Samuel Smithers, PhD researcher and associate tutor in the economics department, said: "I remember Craig.
"He and I were in the same cohort, both graduating in 2010.
"He was a hard-working, highly-perseverant man who always wore a smile. It is a tragic loss of life for somebody who clearly had a lot of life to give."
Another soldier, who has not yet been named, also died in the SAS training exercise at the weekend.
It is understood they were among six soldiers who collapsed during a training exercise on Saturday.
One other soldier remains seriously ill.
Defence Secretary Phillip Hammond said there would be a "full service inquiry" into the deaths.
