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He also served as a lieutenant in the Gurkha Rifles, fighting in the Malayan Emergency, a communist-inspired revolt against the British colonial authorities.

For centuries, Nepali nationals were recruited by the British army to fight as famed Gurkha soldiers and later by India when it gained independence from Britain.

Mr Purja, who served with the Gurkhas and the Special Boat Service, landed safely and was found "on his knees crying" by Spanish officials, the inquest was told.

It largely prohibits its citizens from joining foreign armies - although there are exemptions for its ethnic Gurkha soldiers to join the Indian and British armies - but this ban is also hard to enforce.

Magar was born in a remote mountain village in Nepal and later was recruited by the British army as a Gurkha.