Update On Condition Of Australian Soldiers

Department of Defence Media Mail List
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MSPA 122/09 Saturday, 4 April 2009

Update On Condition Of Australian Soldiers Wounded In Engagement With Taliban On 24 March

Two Australian soldiers from the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF1) have returned to Australia for further medical treatment of wounds suffered when they were engaged by Taliban insurgents on Tuesday 24 March 2009.

A third soldier and coalition interpreter were also wounded in this engagement.

The third soldier is expected to return to operational duty with MRTF1 after a short period of recovery. The soldier’s name will not be released.

The coalition interpreter wounded in this engagement has been transferred to a local hospital in Kabul to be near his family. He is continuing to receive medical care.

"The medical care provided to the soldiers and interpreter by Australian and Coalition medical staff was first-class," Brigadier Brian Dawson said.

"We also need to be mindful of the coalition interpreter who was wounded serving alongside the Australians. He has received the best quality care from the Coalition and is well on the road to recovery."

Defence will not release further details or the names of the wounded soldiers and requests that the media respect the privacy of the wounded soldiers and their families.

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