TRIBUTES have been paid to a war hero from Neilston after he died at the age of 39. David Timmins lost an eye and suffered horrific internal injuries as a result of an explosion in Afghanistan while he was taking part in Operation Panther’s Claw in July 2009. He was later awarded the Queen's Gallantry Medal for saving a badly-injured comrade just days earlier and for his work defusing Taliban mines. The highly-respected Lance Corporal was a member of the Royal Logistic Corps' Explosive Device Disposal Team 5 – celebrated as ‘The Famous Five’ for their impressive record of dismantling deadly devices. David, who was found dead at his parents' home in Neilston on January 6, has been described as "a real-life superhero."