A FRIEND of Christchurch Royal Marine Luke Taylor, who was killed in Afghanistan last year, will honour his memory in a gruelling physical challenge this summer.

Former Royal Marine, Wayne Ewens met “Burton Boy” Luke in 1997.

Both new boys, they immediately hit it off, remaining friends until Luke, who lived in Burton, near Christ-church, was tragically killed while in Afghanistan last year.

Wayne said: “I had served with Luke when he first passed out of the Royal Marines and joined me as a signaller.

“We hit it off instantly and kept in contact, bumping into one another at various triathlons and even once at a Rally Driving experience, which Luke won.

“Both of us always wanted to do an Ironman triathlon together but never got around to it, sadly.

“But this year he was planning to do it, so in honour of Luke, I’m going to do the double.”

The Enduroman UK double ironman takes place on June 1 and 2 in Christ-church and consists of a 4.8-mile swim, 224-mile cycle and a 52.4-mile run.

Wayne has the backing of Luke’s wife Niki and son Roan, raising money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, which supported the family through the tragedy.

The event will start at Avon Tyrell in Bransgore on June 1 and Wayne is currently throwing all his efforts into training, drawing on all the qualities instilled as a Royal Marine.

An inquest last month heard Luke, 33, was shot dead by a rogue Afghan soldier with a personal grievance.

He was on his fourth tour of Afghanistan when the sergeant in the Afghan National Army shot at Luke and Lance Corporal Michael Foley at a forward operating base in Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province, on March 26, 2012.

To help raise money for the charity and support Wayne, go to justgiving.com/wayneewens4luke.