Afghan girls 'saved' by marines

Marine Will Charters carries wounded Afghan girl to sickbay

The lives of two Afghan girls wounded in a Taleban attack have been saved by marines, said the Ministry of Defence.

The girls were injured when the Taleban fired a rocket at the marines' base in Sangin in Afghanistan's Helmand province.

They received emergency medical treatment before they were airlifted to Camp Bastion for further treatment.

One of the girls lost her arm in the rocket attack; the second remains in a serious condition.

Child victims

First on the scene was 19-year-old marine Will Charters, from Exeter, Devon, who carried one of the injured children to the first aid post at Bravo Company's forward operating base in Sangin.

"I have seen casualties before but it's horrible when children are involved," he said.

The MoD said many of its forward operating bases in Afghanistan are located in settled areas. When they are targeted, it is often local civilians who bear the brunt of the attacks, said an MoD spokesperson.

What happened to these girls is tragic but it's the reality of fighting against people who do not care who they attack Marine Martin McCaffrey, 40 Comando Royal Marines

Company Medic Martin McCaffrey was on duty when the youngsters were brought in.

The marine gave fluids to both children and was able to stabilise them and dress their wounds while the Medical Emergency Response Team was called in.

Half an hour later, the girls were airlifted by Chinook helicopter to Camp Bastion for further treatment.

Marine McCaffrey, 24, from Runcorn, Cheshire, said: "What happened to these girls is tragic but it's the reality of fighting against people who do not care who they attack."

Royal Marines from Taunton-based 40 Commando are half-way through their six-month deployment to Afghanistan.

The MoD said: "Aggressive patrolling and interaction with the Sangin community by Bravo company has gained the trust of local people and pushed the Taleban away from the town.

"The attack was almost certainly due to Taleban frustration at being unable to contain the marines or have any influence on their achievements in the area."

The girls' uncle expressed his gratitude to the marines.

Speaking through an interpreter, he said they had made local people feel more secure.