DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Coordination and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6265 3343, Fax: 02 62656946
CPA 209/08
Tuesday, 8 July 2008
SOLDIERS WOUNDED IN IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ATTACK
IN AFGHANISTAN
An Australian Special Forces soldier has returned to Australia for further medical treatment of
wounds suffered when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device (IED) in late June,
2008.
The soldier was part of a Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) patrol returning from a
successful clearance operation when the IED strike occurred. Another soldier travelling in the
same vehicle was slightly wounded in the explosion.
Defence spokesperson Brigadier Brian Dawson said the seriously wounded soldier and his
colleague were provided immediate first aid by their patrol mates and evacuated by helicopter
to a nearby International Security Assistance Force medical facility.
The medical prognosis for both of them is good but given the nature of the wounds it was
prudent to return one of them to Australia for rehabilitation and recovery, Brigadier Dawson
said.
The slightly wounded soldier remains in Afghanistan and following a short period of
recovery will return to full operational duty with the SOTG.
Brigadier Dawson said the high threat of IEDs was factored into the planning for every
operation.
Our troops wear a range of protective equipment, our vehicles are equipped to reduce the
threat and of course our tactics and procedures are constantly refined to deal with what is one
of the most significant threats faced in Afghanistan.
There is however no guaranteed solution to the IED menace and we continue to focus our
efforts towards keeping one step ahead of the Taliban extremist IED cells and their
indiscriminate weapons.
Both soldiers families have been informed of the incident.
The soldiers will not be identified and no additional detail will be provided in relation to their
wounds, follow-on medical management, or the conduct of SOTG operations.
Further details of the ADF commitment to Afghanistan can be found at:
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison (02) 6265 3343 or 0408 498 664