SAS hero John McAleese, who led the storming of the Iranian Embassy siege in 1980, has died aged 62.
Sergeant McAleese, who later presented BBC series SAS: Are You Tough Enough?, collapsed of a heart attack in Greece.
It was almost two years to the day since his soldier son Paul, 29, was killed in Afghanistan.
THOSE of us who knew Mac will know his star shone brightest during his years in the Special Air Service.
The world will never forget the moment when he was filmed leaping across the balcony at the Iranian Embassy in London.
After receiving the command to attack, Mac placed explosives on the front window, ordered the hostages inside to "Get down!" then blew out the windows as he stood feet away from the explosion.
That day, May 5, 1980, changed the SAS. Before then almost no one had heard of us but overnight we became famous.
Afterwards Home Secretary William Whitelaw told us: "I knew it would be good but I didn't know it would be that good." There were tears streaming down his face.
Thank goodness Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher had the guts to send us in once the first hostage was shot.
The fame affected some people, but not Mac. He remained down to earth ? tough and funny at the same time, happy to walk around your home naked even though your wife was in the next room.
Nothing bothered him ? until his son Paul was killed helping an injured Army comrade in Afghanistan.
Mac was devastated. He cut himself off from his friends and in effect donned sackcloth and ashes.
Paul was his only son and I believe Mac died of a broken heart.
Siege ... Sun report
Many will remember him at Hereford Cathedral mourning Paul. Few will remember the young Glaswegian who could carry a 60lb rucksack 40 miles over the Welsh mountains, then go for a beer.
Mac could be described as a cross between Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin and a Mexican bandit. He was tough as old boots, eloquent as a fishwife and loyal to his friends and their families.
He was also ruthless to the enemies of the country he served for more than 20 years, six with the Royal Engineers and 17 with the SAS. As well as the Iranian Embassy siege, he saw action in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Bosnia.
Mac will be fondly remembered for many things, not least the two eyes tattooed on his buttocks.
He was never more comfortable than when he had his muddy boots on his best friend's coffee table while being served bacon sandwiches and strong tea.
Margaret Thatcher will remember him as the voice from the back of the room after the 1980 siege that said: "Hey, hen, get your head out of the way. I can't see myself on the telly."
We saved the hostages, arrested one hostage-taker and killed the other five. One of our guys got burns to his legs and another shot the end of his finger off, but otherwise it was a complete success.
Mac played a very full part in that. He was tough in the truest mould of tough soldiers from Scotland. Straight-talking, fearless, honest, intelligent ? a good man to have around in a fight.
As George Orwell pointed out: "Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
Mac was one of those men.
Sergeant McAleese, who later presented BBC series SAS: Are You Tough Enough?, collapsed of a heart attack in Greece.
It was almost two years to the day since his soldier son Paul, 29, was killed in Afghanistan.
THOSE of us who knew Mac will know his star shone brightest during his years in the Special Air Service.
The world will never forget the moment when he was filmed leaping across the balcony at the Iranian Embassy in London.
After receiving the command to attack, Mac placed explosives on the front window, ordered the hostages inside to "Get down!" then blew out the windows as he stood feet away from the explosion.
That day, May 5, 1980, changed the SAS. Before then almost no one had heard of us but overnight we became famous.
Afterwards Home Secretary William Whitelaw told us: "I knew it would be good but I didn't know it would be that good." There were tears streaming down his face.
Thank goodness Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher had the guts to send us in once the first hostage was shot.
The fame affected some people, but not Mac. He remained down to earth ? tough and funny at the same time, happy to walk around your home naked even though your wife was in the next room.
Nothing bothered him ? until his son Paul was killed helping an injured Army comrade in Afghanistan.
Mac was devastated. He cut himself off from his friends and in effect donned sackcloth and ashes.
Paul was his only son and I believe Mac died of a broken heart.
Siege ... Sun reportMany will remember him at Hereford Cathedral mourning Paul. Few will remember the young Glaswegian who could carry a 60lb rucksack 40 miles over the Welsh mountains, then go for a beer.
Mac could be described as a cross between Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin and a Mexican bandit. He was tough as old boots, eloquent as a fishwife and loyal to his friends and their families.
He was also ruthless to the enemies of the country he served for more than 20 years, six with the Royal Engineers and 17 with the SAS. As well as the Iranian Embassy siege, he saw action in Northern Ireland, the Falklands, Iraq and Bosnia.
Mac will be fondly remembered for many things, not least the two eyes tattooed on his buttocks.
He was never more comfortable than when he had his muddy boots on his best friend's coffee table while being served bacon sandwiches and strong tea.
Margaret Thatcher will remember him as the voice from the back of the room after the 1980 siege that said: "Hey, hen, get your head out of the way. I can't see myself on the telly."
We saved the hostages, arrested one hostage-taker and killed the other five. One of our guys got burns to his legs and another shot the end of his finger off, but otherwise it was a complete success.
Mac played a very full part in that. He was tough in the truest mould of tough soldiers from Scotland. Straight-talking, fearless, honest, intelligent ? a good man to have around in a fight.
As George Orwell pointed out: "Men sleep peacefully in their beds at night because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."
Mac was one of those men.