By 3 News online staff
One New Zealand soldier with gun shot wounds is in a serious condition and five others are being treated in Germany following an incident in Afghanistan in which two New Zealand soldiers were killed.
Lance Corporal Pralli Durrer and Lance Corporal Rory Malone were killed when New Zealand forces were called to assist local authorities being attached by insurgents near a village south of Doabe in the Bamiyan province last week.
One of the surviving New Zealand soldiers received gun shot wounds to the abdomen and has remained in Afghanistan for treatment.
Defence Force chief Lieutenant General Rhys Jones says a German surgical team is caring for him at Mazar i Sharif Medical Treatment Facility, and he could soon be transferred to Bagram Air Base to be taken to the same German hospital where his five comrades have been recovering.
“His condition, while serious, has been described as stable,” Mr Jones says.
“He is conscious, alert and in good spirits.”
One soldier already in Germany has had chest surgery and another is due to have surgery to repair a fractured thigh bone. Two others who received shrapnel wounds have been discharged from hospital and another is still on crutches in hospital.
“We wish them all a speedy recovery,” Mr Jones says.
The Defence Force confirms that none of the wounded soldiers were shot in the neck, despite initial reports.
3 News