 THE mother of a Merseyside serviceman, killed in a bomb attack in Iraq, last night said the death of her "extraordinary" son was a huge loss to all who knew him. Royal Marine Ben Nowak, 27, was among four killed in the explosion while they were out on boat patrol in Basra on Remembrance Sunday. The lifelong Everton FC fan, once a promising young footballer who had trials with Southampton FC, had served for a decade in the Marines before volunteering to go to Iraq. He flew out on November 4. Speaking from her sister's home in Speke last night, his mother, Gillian Keary, said she last spoke to him via an internet webcam. She said: "He wasn't afraid, he wasn't worried about anything, he was 'invincible Ben'. We are all still in shock. He was such an extraordinary person. It's a huge loss." Mrs Keary yesterday flew back from Australia, where Cpl Nowak, who was born in Speke, lived from the age of seven until he returned to the UK, aged 16. The serviceman was being mourned yesterday at Everton FC's youth training academy, where he set up a Royal Marine endurance course for young players. Head coach at the academy Neil Dewsnip paid tribute to a "fantastically enthusiastic and passionate" man who was loved by staff scholars. Cpl Nowak spent his time on leave mainly in Speke, living with his uncle and aunt, Michael and Valerie McEvatt. He returned to the UK, aged 16, for trials with Southampton FC, and remained on the club's books for some time, but did not gain a contract. He decided to join the Royal Marines at the age of 18, where the super-fit Commando continued to play football. Cpl Nowak's family paid tribute to "an extraordinary soldier and an extraordinary young man". | 
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