Kiwi soldier evacuated with eye injury

A Kiwi soldier has an eye injury sustained during a live firing practise. Photo / File photo

An injured New Zealand soldier, hit in the eye in Afghanistan, will be airlifted to a German hospital.

The Defence Force today said the soldier, serving with the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team, was injured when an unknown object, possibly a ricochet, penetrated his eyewear during live firing practise on Monday, local time.

He was treated by colleagues before being airlifted to Bagram Air Base for exploratory surgery.

He was in a stable condition, and the Defence Force said he would be travelling to Landstuhl Military Hospital in Germany for further treatment.

The soldier is part of the 2nd/1st Battalion Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment.

The incident was being investigated.

Minister of Defence Jonathan Coleman said the soldier had sustained a minor eye injury and was receiving medical attention.

He did not know if the soldier had been wearing ballistic goggles.

"It was reported to me that it was some sort of ricochet accident. From what I understand he's in a stable condition.''