Scottish Care Worker Linda Norgrove

Linda Norgrove grew up in a traditional croft in the Outer Hebrides where her parents kept cattle. They were charity workers and took her and her sister on holidays to developing countries when she was growing up. As a result of their work, she developed a sense of wanting to help others. She got a first class degree in environmental science from Aberdeen University and earned a distinction for her master's degree at London University.

The Scottish croft where Linda grew up

She was the Regional Director of the American-based Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) and was in charge of a five year, ninety four million pound aid project in an unstable area of eastern Afghanistan. She worked with more than 200 Afghans building roads and bridges, hydroelectric systems, improving agriculture and teaching people how to start their own businesses. She spoke Dari, an Afghanistan version of Persian, so she could talk to the locals.

She knew her work was becoming more dangerous when one of her bodyguards was murdered and then another Aid worker, Dr Karen Woo and nine of her colleagues were killed in August. But she refused to heed the warnings.

She was kidnapped when her two car convoy was stopped by gunmen along with three Afghans who were released a week later. Two days ago she was killed when one of her captors detonated a suicide vest in a failed pre-dawn attempt to rescue her. By the time the 150 US Special Forces troops had fought through Taliban fire for 30 minutes and stormed the compound, she was already dead. The Taliban had intended to use her to secure the release of Pakistani Aafia Siddiqui who is known as "Lady al-Qaeda" who was sentenced to 86 years in the US for the attempted murder of US agents and soldiers.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said "Decisions on operations to free hostages are always difficult. But when a British life is in such danger, and where we and our allies can act, I believe it is right to try". ISAF Commander David H Petraeus said "Afghan and coalition forces did everything in their power to rescue Linda, she was a courageous person with a passion to improve the lives of Afghan people and sadly lost her life in their service.

Some good people come into this world and make a huge difference to the lives of others. Linda Norgrove was one of them.

Footnote: British Prime Minister David Cameron said a full investigation would be launched into her death as it is now thought that a grenade from US forces could have been responsible.