A SOLDIER was killed and others seriously injured after a routine patrol strayed into a minefield in Afghanistan that had already been identified as a danger by their platoon commander, an inquest heard today.
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.
Six others were injured, including three who lost limbs when the patrol encountered the unmarked minefi
eld 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 today that the area the soldiers strayed into had been identified as a danger only weeks before.
Captain Nicholas French, who was attached to 3 Para, said he had arrived in the area in April 2006 and his role was to advise on indirect military fire.
He told the inquest that when he first arrived there were no mine maps available. He said he had spent days gathering information on areas that could be a danger around the Kajaki Dam, which was being protected by a private US security firm and being targeted by Taliban mortar fire.
Capt French told the court that one of the US security personnel known as "Kajaki John" had told him that the area south of the ridge was "a dangerous path".
He added that Kajaki John told him: "Go off that line and I will shoot you myself."
Capt French returned to the base at Camp Bastion with the information in June but said it was not incorporated into a map.
A week after the explosions that killed Cpl Wright, Capt French said he was sent back to the area with a platoon.
He told the court: "I couldn't believe I was being sent there with information that I knew was incorrect and had been proved to be incorrect.
"I was given this map and I stated a number of times I thought it was incorrect."
The inquest, which is set to last for up to two weeks, is due to hear evidence regarding the rescue operation in which a Chinook helicopter was unable to land and had no winch to lift the injured men to safety.
The issue of whether mines were set off by the Chinook's downdraft is also set to be explored.
It also emerged today that solicitors representing the family of Cpl Wright and three of the injured soldiers are due to agree am out-of-court compensation package with the Ministry of Defence over the incident.
Fusilier Andy Barlow, Lance Corporal Paul Hartley and Corporal Stuart Pearson, who lost limbs, had joined the Wright family in launching a claim last year. They are due to be witnesses in the inquest.
Although it could take two years to agree a final settlement, it is understood each amputee is in line to receive upwards of £500,000.
A joint statement released today said: "MPH Solicitors and the MoD are pleased that a mechanism has been agreed under which settlement of the compensation claims arising from the incident in Kajaki, Afghanistan, will be achieved amicably.
"In doing so the parties have adopted a realistic approach which will negate the need for a potentially traumatic court hearing."
The inquest was adjourned until tomorrow morning at 10am.
The full article contains 579 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
