Media Room: Media Releases

SPECIAL AIR SERVICE SOLDIER KILLED IN AFGHANISTAN

An Australian soldier from the Special Air Service Regiment has been killed in Oruzgan Province earlier today.

The soldier was on a patrol when he was severely wounded by small arms fire from Taliban extremists.

Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said other members of the patrol reacted to the incident by extracting the soldier from further danger and providing immediate first aid.

“A Coalition helicopter immediately responded to a call for assistance from the Australian patrol and evacuated the soldier to a nearby medical facility,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

“Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of his mates and the aero-medical team, the soldier succumbed to his wounds.”

Air Chief Marshal Houston said Defence was now doing everything it possibly could to support the family of the soldier and his mates in Afghanistan.

“We have recently informed the soldier’s family and are doing everything we can to assist and support them through this very difficult time.”

“This is a tragic day for the ADF and our thoughts are with family of the soldier, his patrol colleagues who did everything they could to save him, and the wider Special Operations community.”

No other Australian troops were wounded in the incident.  Further details of the operation will not be released as it is ongoing at this time.

Personal details of the soldier involved will not be immediately released at the request of his family.  Defence, with the permission of his family, will seek to release further details about the soldier in the coming days.

Further details of the ADF commitment to Afghanistan can be found at http://www.defence.gov.au/opslipper/default.htm

Media contact:

Defence Media Liaison (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664