Soldiers Wounded In Improvised Explosive Device Attack In Afghanistan

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8th July 2008, 05:19pm - Views: 761





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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






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