Afghan National Army and coalition forces team up to save life of Afghan citizen

ZABUL, AFGHANISTAN

03.19.2011

Story by Lt. Arlo Abrahamson 

NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan

ZABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan National Army soldiers, assisted by a U.S. Special Operations team, medically evacuated an Afghan citizen, March 19, after the truck he was driving crashed on a highway in Zabul province.

A 20 year-old man from eastern Paktia province was trapped inside the cab of his semi-truck, after he crashed into the side of a bridge. When a combined ANA and coalition convoy arrived at the scene of the accident, ANA warned oncoming traffic, and held security while a U.S. Special Operations medic assessed the man’s condition.

“We got there just in time and immediately called in a medevac. He had a serious laceration to his left foot and was bleeding out,” said a U.S. Special Operations team leader.

The medic applied a tourniquet to the injured foot and wrapped the open wounds below the tourniquet with bandages. The man was then air lifted to a Kandahar Airfield medical facility, according to coalition officials.

“The swift action of local Afghan National Army soldiers, partnered with U.S. Special Operations personnel, and the medevac team ultimately saved the man’s life,” said a U.S. Special Operations team leader.

• Date Taken: 03.19.2011
• Date Posted: 03.22.2011 12:21
• Story ID: 67539
• Location: ZABUL, AF