DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 6265 1545
MSPA 263/10
Monday, 28 June 2010
Middle East Commander visits wounded soldiers in Germany
The Commander and Regimental Sergeant Major of Australia’s Joint Task Force 633
have visited seven Australian commandos who continue to receive treatment for
wounds they sustained in a helicopter crash on June 21.
Major General John Cantwell and Warrant Officer Class One Don Spinks made the
flight into Germany over the weekend to see the soldiers in the US Army’s Landstuhl
Regional Medical Center and pass on their best wishes.
Major General Cantwell said the soldiers were receiving first-class care from a team
of very experienced and well-resourced medical staff at the facility.
“The latest medical assessment confirms two soldiers remain in a critical condition
with very serious injuries, with the other five in a satisfactory condition,” Major
General Cantwell said.
“The wounded soldiers still have a long way to go given they were involved in a very
serious helicopter crash but they have received excellent care in Afghanistan and here
in Germany.”
Major General Cantwell and Warrant Officer Class One Spinks also took the
opportunity to speak with families of the wounded soldiers who had been moved to
Germany to be with their loved ones.
“It has been a really tough week for the families and I assured them that the thoughts
of the entire ADF family are with them. I know they are confident we are doing
everything we can to assist the soldiers,” Major General Cantwell said.
“As the Commander I consider the care and welfare of these families part of my
responsibility and I’m doing everything I can to ensure that they are being looked
after as well.”
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: (02) 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
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