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| MoD dismisses Chinook death claim | |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Ministry of Defence has dismissed claims a UK soldier died in Afghanistan because the helicopter rescuing him accidentally set off landmines. | |
| A report in the Sun newspaper said that the Chinook sent to help Corporal Mark Wright and his colleagues caused the explosions because of downdraft. | A report in the Sun newspaper said that the Chinook sent to help Corporal Mark Wright and his colleagues caused the explosions because of downdraft. |
| However, an MoD spokesman said there was no evidence for the claims. | However, an MoD spokesman said there was no evidence for the claims. |
| Cpl Wright, 27, from Edinburgh, of the Parachute Regiment, died on 6 September in the Helmand province. | Cpl Wright, 27, from Edinburgh, of the Parachute Regiment, died on 6 September in the Helmand province. |
| An MoD spokesman said: "It is regrettable when soldiers take their view of an incident - especially one involving a death - to the media rather than their own chain of command." | An MoD spokesman said: "It is regrettable when soldiers take their view of an incident - especially one involving a death - to the media rather than their own chain of command." |
| The corporal died after a patrol strayed into an unmarked minefield. | The corporal died after a patrol strayed into an unmarked minefield. |
| Mission under scrutiny | Mission under scrutiny |
| He was attempting to save the life of an injured paratrooper when he was killed in the incident in which five soldiers were injured, with three of them losing their legs. | He was attempting to save the life of an injured paratrooper when he was killed in the incident in which five soldiers were injured, with three of them losing their legs. |
| They had all been part of a Nato-led security patrol. | They had all been part of a Nato-led security patrol. |
| It has been alleged that Cpl Wright specifically asked that a Chinook should not be sent and that the helicopter eventually left empty. | It has been alleged that Cpl Wright specifically asked that a Chinook should not be sent and that the helicopter eventually left empty. |
| The British military operation in Afghanistan came under further scrutiny recently after leaked e-mails showed a major in the paratroopers complaining that the RAF had been "utterly, utterly useless". | The British military operation in Afghanistan came under further scrutiny recently after leaked e-mails showed a major in the paratroopers complaining that the RAF had been "utterly, utterly useless". |
| Defence Secretary Des Browne has conceded that the Taleban resistance has proved harder than expected to defeat. | Defence Secretary Des Browne has conceded that the Taleban resistance has proved harder than expected to defeat. |