A Bomb Disposal expert was fatally wounded while clearing improvised explosive devices in Nahr-e Sarajm, Helmand province

A soldier who was injured in Afghanistan while clearing roadside bombs has died, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The soldier, from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps, was on an operation to clear improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in the Nahr-e Saraj (south) district of Helmand province on Monday when one bomb detonated.

The soldier was taken to Camp Bastion in Helmand before being evacuated to the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham, but unfortunately died on Tuesday, the MoD said.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick, the spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said he announced the death with much sadness.

He added: "The soldier was neutralising a complex set of improvised explosive devices which had been sown in an alleyway between two compounds when one of the devices detonated.

"Immediate first aid was provided and a helicopter medical emergency response team recovered the casualty to the military hospital in Camp Bastion."

The death takes the number of UK military personnel who have died since operations in Afghanistan began in 2001 to 364.

Date : 20-04-2011