Soldier killed in minefield mistake

Soldier killed in minefield mistake
Published: Monday, 6 October 2008, 1:52PM
A soldier was killed when a routine patrol strayed into a minefield in Afghanistan, an inquest has heard.

Six others were seriously injured in the minefield that had already been identified as a danger by their platoon commander.

Corporal Mark Wright, 27, of The Parachute Regiment's 3rd Battalion, died after trying to save the life of a comrade hurt when a mine exploded.

Three of those injured lost limbs when the patrol encountered the unmarked minefield in the region of Kajaki in Helmand Province on September 6, 2006.

Cpl Wright, from Edinburgh, was posthumously awarded a George Cross medal - the second highest military honour for bravery.

An inquest into his death at Oxford Coroner's Court heard that the area the soldiers strayed into had been identified as a danger only weeks before.
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