ID :
15675
Tue, 08/12/2008 - 18:08
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/15675
The shortlink copeid
Three Diggers injured in Afghanistan
(AAP) Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon says it was "not ideal" that a helicopter sent to rescue wounded Australian troops in Afghanistan had a rough landing that injured another soldier.
Two Australian soldiers were wounded, one seriously, when their Bushmaster troop
carrier struck a roadside bomb in the southern Oruzgan province on Monday.
The first rescue helicopter dispatched to the scene had a "hard landing", injuring a
third soldier, and could not carry out its mission.
A second rescue helicopter, based in Kandahar, could not take off because of bad
weather.
A third rescue helicopter collected the soldiers and took them to a medical centre.
Mr Fitzgibbon said the incident was "not ideal, certainly".
"Of course I'm concerned," he told ABC Radio.
But accidents happened, he said.
"This was a string of bad luck, if you like," he said.
"I mean we are in a very, very difficult environment in Afghanistan.
"You've got darkness, you've got dust, pilots under pressure because of potential
threats, and these accidents will occur."
Mr Fitzgibbon said it was a "considerable amount of time" before the injured
soldiers got to a medical centre.
But he played down concerns, saying a doctor from the first rescue helicopter
treated the injured soldiers during the wait.
Mr Fitzgibbon said all the injured soldiers would make a full recovery and return to
their duties.
He said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was looking into the incident.
Concerns were raised about ADF rescue response times after Australian soldier Sean
McCarthy died in Afghanistan in July.
Critics said it took two hours for the wounded soldier to be taken to hospital for
treatment, when it should have taken 10-20 minutes. The ADF rejected the claim.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australia was in for difficult times with
the start of the heavy fighting season in Afghanistan.
"We've also moved into a period of increased intensity. It's what they refer to as,
somewhat tragically in Afghanistan, as fighting season," Ms Gillard told ABC Radio.
"So it is a tough fight, but it's an important fight."
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin said it was crucial that the best possible
treatment was available to wounded soldiers.
"Our personnel, their families and the Australian community must be reassured that
the ADF and our allies in Afghanistan have the equipment, the resources and the
procedures in place to provide the best possible medical care in the field," Senator
Minchin said.
Two Australian soldiers were wounded, one seriously, when their Bushmaster troop
carrier struck a roadside bomb in the southern Oruzgan province on Monday.
The first rescue helicopter dispatched to the scene had a "hard landing", injuring a
third soldier, and could not carry out its mission.
A second rescue helicopter, based in Kandahar, could not take off because of bad
weather.
A third rescue helicopter collected the soldiers and took them to a medical centre.
Mr Fitzgibbon said the incident was "not ideal, certainly".
"Of course I'm concerned," he told ABC Radio.
But accidents happened, he said.
"This was a string of bad luck, if you like," he said.
"I mean we are in a very, very difficult environment in Afghanistan.
"You've got darkness, you've got dust, pilots under pressure because of potential
threats, and these accidents will occur."
Mr Fitzgibbon said it was a "considerable amount of time" before the injured
soldiers got to a medical centre.
But he played down concerns, saying a doctor from the first rescue helicopter
treated the injured soldiers during the wait.
Mr Fitzgibbon said all the injured soldiers would make a full recovery and return to
their duties.
He said the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was looking into the incident.
Concerns were raised about ADF rescue response times after Australian soldier Sean
McCarthy died in Afghanistan in July.
Critics said it took two hours for the wounded soldier to be taken to hospital for
treatment, when it should have taken 10-20 minutes. The ADF rejected the claim.
Acting Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Australia was in for difficult times with
the start of the heavy fighting season in Afghanistan.
"We've also moved into a period of increased intensity. It's what they refer to as,
somewhat tragically in Afghanistan, as fighting season," Ms Gillard told ABC Radio.
"So it is a tough fight, but it's an important fight."
Opposition defence spokesman Nick Minchin said it was crucial that the best possible
treatment was available to wounded soldiers.
"Our personnel, their families and the Australian community must be reassured that
the ADF and our allies in Afghanistan have the equipment, the resources and the
procedures in place to provide the best possible medical care in the field," Senator
Minchin said.
