Update (2) on the Condition of Australian Soldiers Wounded in Action

The seven soldiers wounded in Saturday’s shooting at Forward Operating Base Pacemaker in northern Kandahar province have been aero-medically transferred to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany for further treatment.

The seven soldiers were transported on dedicated coalition aero-medical flights from Bagram Airfield to Landstuhl during the course of 1 November 2011.

Following treatment, the Australian soldier who suffered life-threatening wounds in the shooting is now assessed as being in a serious condition.

The four Australian soldiers who suffered serious wounds in the shooting are still assessed as being in a serious condition.

Of the two Australian soldiers suffered minor wounds in the shooting, one soldier remains in a serious condition while the other is assessed as being satisfactory.

Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Ash Power said Defence has also deployed additional psychologists to the operation to assist soldiers after the tragic event of the weekend.

“While we have an excellent team to provide quality mental, pastoral and welfare care to our troops permanently in the Middle East, we have deployed two additional psychologists to Afghanistan to support the large number of troops affected by this event,” Lieutenant General Power said.

“We have also deployed an Army psychologist to Germany to assist our wounded as they continue their medical treatment.”

Lieutenant General Power said the psychologist deployed to Germany was normally based in Townsville and would be able to continue assisting the soldiers after they return to Australia.

The Defence Community Organisation and the Australian Army continue to support the families of those killed and wounded on Saturday.

The medical conditions of the wounded soldiers are; six soldiers still assessed as being in a serious condition and one satisfactory.

Defence and the Australian Government are assisting with the movement of the soldiers’ family members to Germany under the Australians Dangerously Ill Scheme (AUSDIL).

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.

Planning is also underway to return Captain Duffy, Corporal Birt and Lance Corporal Gavin to their families in Australia.

Media contact:

Defence Media Operations 02 6127 1999