NZ soldier loses foot after vehicle hits landmine in Afghanistan

1.00pm - By FRANCESCA MOLD

A New Zealand SAS soldier has had his left foot amputated after suffering serious injuries when his vehicle ran over a land mine in Afghanistan.

The Defence Force today confirmed three NZ soldiers serving with international forces in Afghanistan were injured in the accident that happened at about 7.30 last night (NZ time).

Defence Force chief Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson said the men were on a routine patrol with other military personnel when their vehicle hit the mine.

He could not give further information about the landmine, but said there were thousands of landmines dotting the region dating back to the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s.

Two of the soldiers in the vehicle suffered concussion and shrapnel injuries. One also had significant damage to his ear.

Another soldier suffered severe injuries to his left foot.

The men were treated at the scene of the accident by a quick response medical team and were evacuated to a military hospital nearby.

Air Marshal Ferguson said United States surgeons tried for several hours to save the man's foot but he was informed about two hours ago that they had been unsuccessful and it had been amputated.

The soldier's condition was stable and he would be airlifted to a hospital in Germany for further treatment before being repatriated to New Zealand.

The other two soldiers were now well enough to walk around and were likely to remain in Afghanistan.It is the second time New Zealand soldiers have been injured while serving in Afghanistan.

In August, two SAS soldiers were airlifted to a military hospital by US helicopters after suffering injuries when their vehicle rolled down a bank.

Air Marshal Ferguson and Defence Minister Mark Burton released few details of the incident at a press conference today, saying they wanted to protect the operational safety of New Zealand soldiers serving in the troubled zone.

They would not reveal where the incident happened, what the soldiers were doing, what kind of vehicle they were travelling in, their names, ages or rank.

It was initially Government policy not to reveal whether New Zealand special forces soldiers were even serving in Afghanistan but Prime Minister Helen Clark confirmed their presence after it was revealed by a White House website.

Mr Burton yesterday agreed the Government had maintained a precautionary approach on the release of information about special forces.

"But in this situation where we have injuries, it's our judgement that it is important people know this has happened. This is in the public interest to know."

He said the New Zealand Army had notified the soldiers' next-of-kin about the accident and there would be an "in-house" inquiry by the Defence Force into the incident.

However, little, if any detail of that inquiry would be made public.

Air Marshal Ferguson said he was protecting the operational safety of his soldiers by not revealing more information.

"The safety and integrity of my people is absolute and that takes total precedence over the interests of other people and what you may say is the right to know," he said.

"I am 100 per cent totally committed to making certain my people operate to the highest safety. If that means I withhold information than so be it."

Mr Burton said that by the time journalists left the midday press conference, anything that was said would potentially be available to hostile forces on the other side of the world.

"We have to be mindful of that. We have to be mindful that if the last 13 months has taught us anything, there are connections that can be made."

Air Marshal Ferguson agreed there were concerns about how information provided by the Defence Force about the soldiers could be used by others.

"I have to ask myself what benefit to my people am I providing by saying more than I need to say."