AN SAS soldier who survived tours of duty in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Northern Ireland has been killed in a motorcycle accident.

Sgt Kevin Joseph Pearson, who was 36, grew up in York, and attended Fishergate School and then Oaklands School. He joined the Queen’s Own Yeomanry cadet force when he was 13, along with his best friend, Lee Moran.

Sgt Pearson joined the Green Howards when he was 17, serving in Northern Ireland and Bosnia. He remained in the regiment for more than ten years before passing selection and being accepted by the Special Air Service.

He had recently returned from operations in Afghanistan, but was killed on October 25 in Herefordshire when his red Ducati motorbike was in a collision with a Suzuki car.

Lee, of Cornlands Road, Acomb, paid tribute to his “life-long mate”.

He said: “He was an absolutely fantastic lad. As boys we got up to our own little bits of mischief, but he has made us really proud of where he got to. He had a lot of friends and was a really well-liked lad and you can see why by his smile.” Sgt Pearson’s funeral was held in Hereford, where the SAS is based, with full military honours.

Lee said the funeral was like something out of a different world.

Sgt Pearson was given a 21-gun salute and an RAF flypast. A bugler played and two former comrades parachuted in, one carrying the SAS Squadron’s flag and the other carrying a black flag.

Lee said: “Kev was a true unsung hero and was a true inspiration to everybody that he met, and we would just like to say thank you to his former friends and colleagues.”

Floral tributes and messages were left at the site of the crash.

They included: “Always in our thoughts from the boys in B”, and “Mine’s a Stella, fella”.

Tributes have also been paid online.

Andy T said: “RIP Kev, you’re now a member of God’s Airborne Brotherhood.”

The SAS motto was invoked by Cadams, who said: “Kev you will be deeply missed. Who Dares, Wins. RIP.”