Australian Serving In Afghanistan Loses Hearing

Australian Soldier Serving In Afghanistan Suffers Hearing Loss

An Australian soldier serving with the 2nd Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force (MRTF2) has suffered initial hearing loss as a result of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploding near his patrol. This soldier was involved in one of three incidents which sadly included an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier being killed and one other wounded on Monday, 19 October 2009.

This soldier was not identified as a battle casualty at the time of the incident. On return of the patrol to a Forward Operating Base the soldier was subsequently identified as suffering hearing loss. As a precautionary measure this soldier was aero-medically evacuated to the Coalition Medical Facility in Tarin Kowt for further observation.

The soldier is currently on restricted duties, but is expected to return to duty once his condition improves.

The soldier’s family has been notified.

The soldier suffered the hearing loss in an incident separate to the one which killed an ANA soldier. However, the soldier was part of a series of mentored patrols involving the ANA and Australian and coalition soldiers.

ENDS

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