07/07/2009

British Soldier Dies In Afghan Helicopter Crash

A British soldier is among three troops who have been killed in a helicopter crash in southern Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed.

The soldier, from 22 Engineer Regiment, Royal Engineers, died after the helicopter crashed during takeoff in Zabul Province on Monday afternoon.

The soldiers name has not yet been released, and his next of kin has been informed, the MoD said.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lt Col Nick Richardson, said: "Today has been a sad day in the history of Task Force Helmand and this death has deeply moved us.

"The loss of a soldier, friend and colleague is tragic and our thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time."

Two Canadian troops also died in the crash. They have been named by Canadian media as Master Cpl Pat Audet and Cpl Martin Joannette.

The three men had been on board the Canadian army Griffon helicopter when it crashed shortly after taking off from a US forward operating base, about 80km north-east of the city of Kandahar at 1.50pm local time (9.20am GMT).

Three other Canadians - including two pilots - were injured in the incident. One is said to be seriously hurt.

The soldier's death takes the number of UK service personnel killed in Afghanistan since October 2001 to 175. Six have died in less than a week.

The MoD, meanwhile, have named the British soldier killed in Afghanistan on Sunday as Lance Corporal Dane Elson.

The 22-year-old, who served with the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, was killed in a bomb blast while on foot patrol in Helmand province. Lance Corporal Elson was a team commander in his Fire Support Group.

See: Soldiers Killed In Anti-Taliban Offensives

(JM/BMcC)

Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

01 June 2007
MoD names soldier killed in Afghanistan helicopter crash
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the name of the soldier who died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan on Wednesday as Corporal Mike Gilyeat from the Royal Military Police. Cpl Gilyeat, 28, died when the American Chinook helicopter he was travelling in crashed in the Kajaki area of northern Helmand in southern Afghanistan.
16 October 2008
Household Cavalry Soldier Killed In Afghanistan
A British soldier has been killed while on patrol in the southern province of Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced. The soldier died after an explosion 14 miles north of the Taliban stronghold of Helmand yesterday. The MoD said the soldier had served in D Squadron of the Household Cavalry regiment.
08 July 2009
British Serviceman Killed In Afghan Blast
A British soldier has been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. The serviceman, from the Light Dragoons, died in a blast near Gereshk in Helmand Province, southern Afghanistan, on Tuesday night. The MoD said next of kin have been informed.
10 July 2009
British Troops Killed As Death Toll Rises
Two more British soldiers have been killed in separate incidents in southern Afghanistan. In the first incident, a soldier from 4th Battalion The Rifles, was killed in a contact explosion, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced this morning. The soldier was out on a foot patrol near Nad Ali.
09 June 2010
Soldier Is Latest Afghanistan Victim
Another British soldier has been killed in an explosion in southern Afghanistan. In what is fast becoming a near daily litany of tragedy, the soldier, from the 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, died in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province on Wednesday. Next of kin have been informed.