Soldier's body may be home in days

Tim O'Donnell. Photo / Supplied

The body of slain soldier Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell and his two wounded New Zealand colleagues may be home as early as Saturday evening.

Lt O'Donnell, 28, was killed when his three-vehicle convoy, in which about 12 soldiers were riding, was attacked as they patrolled in the north-east of Bamiyan province early yesterday (NZT).

He was in the convoy's lead vehicle, a Humvee which was destroyed by an explosive device, joint forces commander Air Vice Marshal Peter Stockwell told reporters today.

Lance Corporal Matthew Ball, 24, and Private Allister Baker, 23, and an interpreter who were injured were in the same vehicle were injured.

They accompanied the casket of Lt O'Donnell to Bagram Air Force Base, east of Bamiyan, in a coalition air force C130 Hercules today and admitted to Bagram hospital for further treatment.

Whether Lt O'Donnell and his two wounded comrades could get home by Saturday depended on medical clearance for the wounded men, AVM Stockwell said.

It seemed likely they would not need to go to Germany for treatment as initially planned, he said.

New Zealand officials were waiting on final confirmation tonight that an air force Boeing 757 waiting at Penang in Malaysia would get diplomatic clearance to the United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East.

A coalition aircraft would bring the New Zealand soldiers from Bagram to meet the Boeing.

Lt O'Donnell was farewelled from Afghanistan in a simple but sombre and poignant ceremony in Bamiyan township early this morning (NZT).

It was attended by members of the New Zealand Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), the provincial governor, Habiba Sarabi, and the acting provincial chief of police.

- NZPA