Media Room: Media Releases

TWO AUSTRALIAN SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN AFGHANISTAN

Two Australian soldiers from the Townsville-based 3^rd Brigade, deployed to Afghanistan as part of the 2^nd Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force, have been wounded in an incident involving an Improvised Explosive Device.

The soldiers were travelling in a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle when it was struck by a large road-side bomb yesterday (7 July 2009) at about 10am (approximately 15.30pm AEST).

Two Australian soldiers were wounded as a result of the incident. While their wounds are not life threatening they are continuing to receive medical treatment.

The Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans said the soldiers were quickly aero-medically evacuated to the Dutch military hospital at Tarin Kowt.

“The helicopter aero-medical evacuation (AME) was completed in under one hour and the soldiers are receiving excellent medical care in coalition facilities in Tarin Kowt and Kandahar,” Lieutenant General Evans said.

“I have received reports from their unit that the soldiers are in good spirits despite their injuries and both have spoken with their families.

“While this is the first incident of this type for the recently deployed battle-group, we have to acknowledge that the Taliban continue with their campaign to use indiscriminate attacks on coalition troops and civilians in an ongoing effort to destabilize the security situation in the region.”

Lieutenant General Evans also said that while the Bushmaster was badly damaged in the explosion, the protection provided for Australian and Afghan troops was not to be under-stated.

The soldiers’ next of kin have been contacted. In accordance with Defence policy, and due to the fact that operations are ongoing, no further details will be released at this time.

Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664