The Tony Blair legacy, Para dies

The Tony Blair legacy, Para dies after bomb blast in
Afghanistan

An English soldier has died from his injuries after a bomb
exploded in Afghanistan as he investigated insurgent activity.

The Paratrooper from 2nd Battalion, the Parachute Regiment,
was flown back to England after Wednesday's blast in the Nahr-e Saraj area of
Helmand province.

He died on Friday in Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital in
Birmingham with his family at his bedside; the London Times sends it condolences
to his family, friends and comrades, we sadden by the tragic loss of another brave
soldier.

This now brings the death total of military personnel to
have died since operations began in 2001 to 360.

The Para’s had been investigating insurgent activity in the
Nahr-e Saraj district.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lt Col Tim Purbrick, said:
"It with much regret that I have to inform you of the death of a soldier
in Central Helmand.

"The soldier was on a patrol to investigate insurgent
activity in the Nahr-e Saraj district when he was severely wounded by an
Improvised Explosive Device.

"He was immediately medically evacuated by helicopter
to the military hospital in Camp Bastion and subsequently aero-medically
evacuated to the Queen Elizabeth NHS Hospital in Birmingham.

Our thoughts are very much with his family and friends comrades
of 2Para.”