FOUR British servicemen died yesterday from injuries sustained during incidents in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence confirmed last night.
Three soldiers died when a bomb struck their Land Rover in the south of the country. The three, who have not been named, were from 1st Battalion The Rifles, and were on a routine escort operation in Gereshk district in Helmand province yesterday
when they were hit by the blast, the Ministry of Defence said.
Meanwhile, a Royal Marine from 45 Commando died at a hospital in Birmingham yesterday from wounds sustained two days ago while on patrol near the town of Sangin, also in Helmand. Next of kin have been informed. The marine has yet to be named.
A spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand said of the marine's death: "The death of this brave marine is a tragedy and his loss will be felt deeply by his family, friends and all those who served alongside him."
In the Gereshk incident, it is believed the soldiers' weapon-mounted "WMIK" Land Rover was blown up by either a landmine or a wire-triggered improvised explosive device.
An emergency helicopter was scrambled, but all three were pronounced dead. They were part of a team mentoring Afghan forces. Their next of kin have also been informed.
Their deaths were the worst loss of life in a single incident for the UK.
Commander Paula Rowe, the spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand, said: "(This] has been incredibly sad for the whole of Task Force Helmand.
"We will all feel the loss of these brave soldiers, whose role was to build the capacity of the Afghan National Army.
"But it is their family, friends and loved ones, as well as the men and women who served alongside them, who feel the greatest pain and we offer them our deepest and heart-felt condolences, thoughts and prayers."
Brigadier-General Richard Blanchette, the spokesman for Nato-led International Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, said of the Gereshek fatalities: "It is with deep sorrow that we announce the death of these soldiers and offer our condolences to their grieving families.
"Their valiant efforts will not be forgotten, and spurs us to continue our vital mission to bring security to the people of Afghanistan."
The four deaths brought to 149 the number of British personnel who have been killed in Afghanistan since 2001.
There are currently around 8,000 British troops in Afghanistan, the majority of whom are battling the Taleban in the south of the country.
