30/08/2007

RAF Serviceman Dies In Afghanistan

An RAF gunner has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The gunner, from 51 Squadron RAF Regiment, was killed when the vehicle they were travelling in was caught in an explosion during a routine security patrol around Kandahar Airfield in southern Afghanistan shortly after midnight, local time.

A civilian interpreter was also killed in the explosion and two other servicemen were also injured.

The Ministry of Defence said that all the casualties were evacuated to the ISAF medical facility at Kandahar Airfield by emergency response helicopter. However, the gunner was pronounced dead on arrival and the interpreter died later from his wounds.

The Ministry of Defence said that next of kin have been informed and that there would be a 24-hour grace period before further details were released.

(KMcA/SP)

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