An Australian Special Air Services (SAS) soldier on his seventh tour has been killed in Afghanistan.
The 40-year-old soldier was on a mission in the Chora Valley targeting an insurgent commander when he was shot in the chest.
He was a member of the Perth-based SAS regiment and was on a partnered mission with Afghan security forces when the incident took place.
According to chief of the defence force, General David Hurley, the soldier was wearing body armour at the time of the incident. General Hurley told press that despite the best efforts, attempts to resuscitate the soldier were unsuccessful.
"This man was a soldier's soldier," General Hurley told reporters.
According to Australia’s defence minister, Stephen Smith, the death is the first for the country in eight months. The soldier is the 33rd Australian Defence Force member killed in the conflict since 2002.
Australia’s prime minister Julia Gillard described the death as “a dreadful blow” to the country.
3 News