This time, a Royal Marine used a rugby tackle to take out a jihadi who had some ill intentions involving a bomb and a bicycle.

My immediate assumption was that he was a spotter for the Taliban who were planning an ambush.

'I just didn't want him to push the button again to detonate the other charge.

'I had my weapon on him and I shouted for him to stop in Pashtu. He did initially and that's why I didn't take the shot, you have to be sure.

'He then carried on walking away. I heard a popping sound like the electric sound when you connect a car battery it was him trying to set off the first of two charges.

'I ran forward and grabbed him, pushing him over the motorbike bringing him to the ground.

'I searched him, looked at the motorbike and realised I had searched it 24 hours earlier when the saddlebags which contained the explosives were full of potatoes.

'I looked up and noticed the yellow button in the centre of the motorbike and realised what was going on. I just went into automatic mode.

'I was angry that he tried to kill us and I was angry with myself for bringing young marines into the situation.

'We were very lucky, with that much explosive it would have caused a blast with a 180-metre radius.'

Major Rich Cantrill, Company Commander of L Company, said the marine saved many lives.

Major Cantrill said: 'He acted with conspicuous gallantry in the situation and put himself at great peril to get the suicide bomber away from the motorbike.

'He ran over and more or less rugby tackled him to the ground. I got on the radio and I heard mention of hand fighting.

'He had grabbed him away from the bike after seeing wires and switches. He quickly realised the full implications of it all.

'He showed great restraint in dealing with him especially as he had tried to kill him and the other lads around him.

'It was conspicuous gallantry. He saved multiple lives. Everyone thinks he's a hero.

'It was a bungled attempt at a suicide bombing but he still could have set off the other charge.

'Had it not been for this Marine's actions there would have been a massive explosion.'

The motorcyclist entered the area on November 19 at around 12.30pm and was looking for British, American or Afghan soldiers to target.

By the time he tried to detonate his bomb the bike had broken down and he was pushing it along the road.

At around the same time the Marines received a radio report giving intelligence of a suspected suicide bomber on a motorbike in the area.

During last week's five-day operation, the marines of L Company also found bomb-making equipment, weapons and ammunition.

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