A YOUNG mum whose son was saved by soldier Stephen Monkhouse wept as she heard the news of his death and hailed him 'a true hero at heart'.

Five years ago, the 28-year-old Lance Corporal leapt to the rescue of four-year-old Jordan Carson after he split his head open on a kids' fun ride.

Jordan, now nine, and his mum, Donna-Marie Deneese, 28, spoke of their shock and devastation at the news Stephen had died in Afghanistan on Wednesday during a rescue mission to save an injured comrade.

Speaking through her tears Donna-Marie, from Greenock, said: "Stephen will always be a hero to me and Jordan." "I couldn't believe it when I read he had been killed. I've been really upset. I knew he was a really decent guy, so I wasn't surprised to learn he was trying to rescue someone else when he was shot. That's the type of guy he was.

"We didn't even know him at the time and for him to stop and go out of his way to help Jordan proves he was always a true hero at heart." In 2005, the Tele reported how selfless Stephen provided vital first aid to Jordan when he suffered a serious head wound after smashing his head on the ground.

The quick-thinking Scots Guard ran into Mothercare to get cotton wool and nappies to use as make-shift bandages, and kept the youngster conscious until paramedics arrived.

Five years on, Jordan, who still bears a scar on the back of his head, still remembers the day and said he was 'really sad' to learn of the soldier Stephen's death.

Jordan, a pupil at Highlanders' Academy, said: "I remember falling. I remember it hurting a lot and he helped me. I was really sad when my mum told me he had died." Donna-Marie added: "I told Jordan Stephen had been killed and he was upset and cried. Even though he was only four, he knows what Stephen did for him." Donna-Marie's mum, May Watt, 50, was with Jordan at the time of his fall and said Stephen's actions probably saved Jordan's life.

She said: "I was hysterical when I saw all the blood. I didn't have a clue what to do, but Stephen was calm and phoned for an ambulance then applied first aid to Jordan. I'll never forget it."