Bomb Defuser Killed on Last Day of Job

(MYFOX NATIONAL) - A British soldier who had defused 64 roadside bombs in Afghanistan was killed during his last mission, a day before he was set to return home.

Staff Sargeant Olaf Schmid, 30, died instantly when the bomb he was trying to disable blew up, according to the Daily Mail .

Officials described Schmid as a "legend" who "stared death in the face on a daily basis."

Schmid led a force in the Royal Logistics Corps that specifically tackles roadside bombs. Since his tour began in June, Schmid successfully disabled 1 out of every 19 improvised explosive devices found by British troops. On Pharmacy Road, one of the most dangerous routes in Afghanistan, Schmid found 31 roadside bombs in a 24-hour period.

Schmid's wife, Christina, said she was comforted by the fact that his actions had saved "countless lives."

"Oz was a phenomenal husband and loving father who was cruelly murdered on his last day of a relentless tour. He was my best friend and soulmate. The pain of losing him is overwhelming," Christina said.

The number of deaths from IEDs in Afghanistan has steadily grown from 19 in September 2007 to 106 in October 2009, according to the Associated Press.