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Son of British commander loses leg in Taliban roadside bombing
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent21 Jul 2009
Seriously ill: Harry Parker was injured in a roadside bomb
The son of one of Britain's most senior army officers has been severely injured in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan, it was reported today.
Captain Harry Parker, 26, is reported to have lost a leg in the blast and surgeons believe he may lose the other one. He has been flown back to Britain where he is being treated at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and is understood to be very seriously ill.
His father, Sir Nick Parker, the Army's third most senior officer, returned from holiday after learning of his son's injuries.
A military source said: “General Sir Nick, his wife and the whole family are understandably devastated by what has happened to Harry. The general understands the risk more than most but it is still an appalling thing for any parent to go through.”
Gen Parker will become the most senior British officer in Afghanistan in September when he takes over as deputy commander of Nato forces.
The death of another British soldier was announced today, bringing the number killed in Afghanistan this month to 18 and the military death toll since the conflict started in 2001 to 187.
The latest victim, from the Army's bomb disposal group, was killed while on patrol on yesterday afternoon.
Hundreds more British troops have been wounded, including many who have suffered serious injuries. Army medics say at least 157 soldiers were treated at the field hospital at Camp Bastion in Helmand province last week.
One told BBC radio: “The last few weeks have been an extremely busy period. There have been injuries like you've probably never seen or experienced.” Britain's army chief General Sir Richard Dannatt has drawn up a “shopping list” of equipment to counter the threat of roadside bombs, including more helicopters to transport troops, which has been presented to Gordon Brown.
Outgoing Nato Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, stressed in a speech last night in London that the alliance must remain in Afghanistan and win the conflict despite the growing casualties.
Warning against abandoning the campaign, he said: “Al Qaeda would have a free run again, and their terrorist ambitions are global. Those who say we can defend against terrorism from home are burying their heads in the sand.”
Before delivering his speech, Mr De Hoop Scheffer held talks in Downing Street with Gordon Brown, who has been accused of failing to provide sufficient funding for the forces.
The Prime Minister's spokesman said Mr Brown talked him through the current UK Operation Panther's Claw in central Helmand, while stressing the need for “further burden-sharing” by Nato allies.
Reader views (6)
The badly wounded ... not just something to hide but a great deal that they are hiding!!
- Denise, Suffolk, 22/07/2009 09:51
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Why do they never tell us how many BRAVE LADS have been badly wounded, something to hide!
- Alex., brighton, 21/07/2009 12:40
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Too small a sector of the British people are bearing too heavy a burden in a conflict that the Prime Minister has said we have no option but to pursue to a successful conclusion. This struggle should therefore be taken up by the nation as a whole, now. Selective conscription must now be planned for in order to be able to keep up what will undoubtedly be a very high level of activity for a very long time. We have no other way of pulling the nation together to achieve this vital objective for the whole community.
- Peter Haldane, London, 21/07/2009 11:43
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I hope this brave young man makes a good recovery and can lead a full active life. It is a shame Euan Blair did not join the Army; our soldiers would have been properly equipped and protected.. Maybe they would not have been sent to war.
- Beatriz, London, 21/07/2009 11:21
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We should be told about the total number of casualties, not just deaths ,in order to see enough is being done for them.
- James J, London, 21/07/2009 11:08
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How awful: the worst tragedy of war is that it takes away the best - this young man has not sat about like a couch potato but gone out and engaged with life. I hope his health can be restored: I'm sure he'll have the strength of character to contend with his injuries.
The heads of the Armed Forces have children on active service; the Queen has children and grandchildren on active service: exactly how many politicians have children serving in the Armed Forces? And of the few who have, how many are in the Labour Party, I wonder?
- Roz, France, 21/07/2009 11:05
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