RAF serviceman dies after explosion in Afghanistan

A member of the Royal Air Force who was injured in the same explosion that killed a Royal Marine in Afghanistan has died of his injuries. The serviceman was seriously wounded when his vehicle was caught in an explosion south of Kabul on Thursday.

He was flown back to the UK but died of his wounds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. His next of kin has been informed.

It is understood the Marine who also died was serving with the Special Forces but the Ministry of Defence does not comment specifically on Special Forces deaths. His family have also been told.

Earlier yesterday, the International Security Assistance Force said a helicopter carrying British troops was forced to make an emergency landing after coming under fire on Friday near an Afghan National Security Force checkpoint in Nahr-e Saraj, Helmand. The air crew were recovered unharmed.

A total of 393 British troops have died in Afghanistan since 2001. David Cameron has indicated he is planning further withdrawals of troops from the country in 2013.