Suffolk medics fly in to help wounded

Suffolk medics fly in to help wounded

An A-10 Thunderbolt is reported to have fired on two armoured vehicles

Helicopter troops from Suffolk helped to deal with the aftermath of the latest victims of friendly fire in the Gulf in which one soldier is reported to have been killed.

Medics of the 3 Army Air Corps treated wounded - including two Iraqi prisoners.

A five-strong team of medics, based at Wattisham Airfield, was flown to the marshland battlefield in the northern Rumaila area to treat four soldiers.

They were injured when a US A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft opened fire on an armoured car from 16 Air Assault Brigade's Household Cavalry Regiment, based in Windsor, Berkshire.

One soldier is reported to have died in the "friendly fire" attack.

The Ministry of Defence would only confirm that an incident was being investigated and that a soldier was missing, presumed dead.

Escorting medics were flown to the scene within minutes by RAF Puma helicopters and landed under enemy mortar fire to evacuate the six wounded, including two Iraqi prisoners.

The injured were airlifted to the brigade's field surgery further to the south.

Corporal Kelly James, 29, of Needham Market, was one of the medics to be given her first taste of treating battle wounds.

Battle wounds

They were called in after the HCR's own medics had stabilised casualties because of their ability to give in-flight care.

Although she admitted to being scared, she said the most important thing was to stave off shock of the casualties.

"I put my arm round him and he told me he was married. He was quite upset and I was trying to comfort him," she said.

Medic Glen Reeves, 35, whose parents live in Stowmarket, said: "As medics we treat whoever is the most seriously injured whoever it may be, whether it's the enemy or our own forces."