Special forces soldier seriously wounded

An Australian special forces soldier has been shot and seriously wounded in
Afghanistan, in an operation in the Shah Wali Kot region of Northern Kandahar
Province.
Defence said two other soldiers received minor wounds after also being shot during
the operation on October 18.
A fourth soldier was later identified as suffering superficial shrapnel wounds.
Defence said all four soldiers were in a satisfactory condition and expected to make
a full recovery.
The three soldiers suffering gunshot wounds received immediate first aid from their
colleagues before they were evacuated by helicopter.
Two of them were sent to the medical facility at the base at Tarin Kot, while the
most seriously wounded soldier was flown to a medical facility at Kandahar.
The fourth soldier was treated after reporting his condition to the medical officer.
"All four soldiers are receiving further medical treatment. Two of the soldiers will
return to Australia due to the nature of their wounds," defence said in a statement.
"Defence can confirm that no other Afghan, Australian or ISAF (International
Security Assistance Force) soldiers were wounded in the action. No local civilians
were injured."
Defence did not reveal the soldiers' names and gave no details of the incident in
which the soldiers were wounded.
It said disclosure that the soldiers had been wounded was delayed due to ongoing
operations at the time.
These casualties bring the number of Australians wounded this year to 56. To date,
156 personnel have been wounded since 2001.