British soldier dies from gunshot wounds

A British soldier died in hospital in the UK after being shot in Afghanistan last month, the Ministry of Defence said today.

The soldier, from 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, part of Combined Force Nahr-e Saraj (South), suffered a gunshot wound in the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand Province on August 23.

He died at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in Birmingham, yesterday.

His family has been told.

Lieutenant Colonel James Carr-Smith, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is with great sadness I must inform you that a soldier died of his wounds yesterday at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

"He was from the 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment, serving as part of the 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles Battle Group.

"The soldier was conducting interdiction and disrupt operations in southern Nahr-e Saraj when he was struck by small arms fire on August 23.

"His bravery and commitment in the face of danger will never be forgotten. We will remember him."

The number of British losses since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001 now stands at 335.