Soldier's body expected back in NZ next week

Private Kirifi Mila joined the New Zealand Army in 2006. Photo / NZDF

The body of New Zealand army soldier Private Kirifi Mila, killed in a motor accident while serving in Afghanistan this week, is expected to return to New Zealand next week, the Defence Force says.

Pte Mila, 27, also known as Cliff, was standing on the turret of a Humvee, about 8.40pm (NZ time Tuesday) when the vehicle rolled down a 30-metre cliff.

Four soldiers were in the vehicle on a patrol which involved three other Humvees.

A private suffered serious head injuries, a sergeant had broken ribs and was now stable, while the other soldier in the vehicle was in shock and recovering.

Today Joint Forces Commander Air Vice Marshall Peter Stockwell said the process of bringing Pte Mila home was well under way.

"At this stage we anticipate that Pte Mila's body will be flown out of Afghanistan to Germany probably sometime this afternoon New Zealand time. We're still confirming those arrangements with our coalition partners in Afghanistan," he told Radio New Zealand.

"Once they get to Germany there's a coronial process that we go through there and he could potentially be in Germany for 24 to 48 hours and then we make arrangements to repatriate him to New Zealand."

The Defence Force would then work with the family on the process they want at this end, AVM Stockwell said.

Pte Mila's brother was stationed in the same unit, but based in Christchurch.

He was with family and was playing a key role in helping them through the process, AVM Stockwell said.

Meanwhile, the private injured in the crash was awake and speaking but in quite a lot of pain and the sergeant was in a "reasonably comfortable" condition, he said.

"At this stage it looks like we'll be able to fly both of those soldiers to Germany probably sometime this afternoon and they'll go into a very good medical facility in Germany at the Nato hospital."

AVM Stockwell said until their condition had improved, it was not known when the injured would return to New Zealand.

An initial inquiry into the crash has found ice and snow on the road may have been a factor.

"I've had no indication to me that it was a vehicle fault or that the road itself gave way. Those haven't been removed as possibilities, but certainly it has been mentioned there was ice and snow on the road so traction may have been a problem," AVM Stockwell said.

The vehicle was generally a good one for the conditions in Afghanistan, he said.

The accident happened near the village of Ferosak in the northeast of Bamiyan province, about 30km from where New Zealand Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell was killed by a bomb last year.

Prime Minister John Key expressed his sorrow yesterday at Pte Mila's death, but said it was not a reason to pull troops out of Afghanistan.

"This was the result of an accident, and motor vehicle accidents do happen," Mr Key said.

Private Mila is the second soldier in the NZ army to die in Afghanistan. Four other New Zealanders, fighting with allied forces, have also died there.

Private Mila was born in Samoa and joined the army in 2006. He was deployed to Afghanistan last year as part of an infantry regiment from Burnham Military Camp.

He has a brother who is also serving in the Army.

- NZPA

SOLDIERS PAY A TRAGIC PRICE

NZ Army combat deaths since 1990

* 24 July 2000: Private Leonard Manning, in East Timor.

* 4 August 2010: Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, in Afghanistan.

Note: Other non-combat deaths have occurred involving personnel deployed overseas

NZ Army deaths from vehicle accidents since 1990

* 30 November 1999: Warrant Officer Class Two Tony Walser, vehicle accident, East Timor.

* 25 April 2000: Staff Sergeant William White, vehicle accident, East Timor.

* 11 August 2004: Private Dougherty and Private Kairua, Unimog accident, Banks Peninsula.

* 23 February 2005: Private Goodwin, Private Ohlen and Private Partington, Unimog accident, Kawarau Gorge.

* 16 August 2006: Private Sims, Unimog accident, Weld Pass, Marlborough.

* 15 February 2011: Private Kirifi Mila, Humvee accident, Afghanistan.

Note: The Army says this is not complete information.