Australian Soldier Wounded In Afghanistan

Australian Soldier Wounded In Afghanistan

An Australian soldier is in a satisfactory condition after sustaining a single, serious gunshot wound to the leg. The soldier was a member of an Afghan and Australian partnered patrol which was engaged by insurgents with a rocket propelled grenade and small arms fire on the 13th of October, in the Baluchi Valley region of Uruzgan Province.

The soldier, from the newly arrived Mentoring Task Force – Two, applied immediate Self Aid before receiving further First Aid from his patrol mates.

He was then evacuated to the Role Two medical facility at Multi National Base – Tarin Kot for further treatment.

No other soldiers were wounded and the soldier’s next of kin has been notified.

Commanding Officer of the Mentoring Task Force – One, LTCOL Mark Jennings, said he was very pleased with the responsiveness and medical attention provided to the wounded soldier.

“The site was secured, first aid applied and an aero medical evacuation called for within a matter of minutes,” LTCOL Jennings said.

LTCOL Jennings said the soldier was able to instinctively apply his training when the wounding occurred.

“In this incident, it was particularly pleasing to see the wounded soldier’s training kick in straight away, applying self aid in an attempt to support his mates in the ongoing fight,” LTCOL Jennings said.

It is likely that the wounded soldier will be returned to Australia for a period of rest and rehabilitation in the coming days.

Yesterday’s casualty brings the number of Australians wounded this year to 52. To date, 152 personnel have been wounded since Operation SLIPPER commenced in 2001.

For more information on the ADF’s operation in Afghanistan go to http://www.defence.gov.au/op/afghanistan/index.htm

ENDS

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