Survivor pays tribute to comrades

David Murray was one of those killed in the blast

A soldier from Preston, wounded in a suicide attack in Afghanistan which killed three of his comrades, offered his condolences to their families.

Pte Nathan Cuthbertson, 19, from Sunderland, Pte Daniel Gamble, 22, from Uckfield, and Pte Charles David Murray, 19, of Carlisle, died in the blast.

Sapper Martin Little, 21, from 9 (Para) Squadron Royal Engineers was injured.

The incident took the toll of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001 to 100.

The attack happened when the bomber detonated an explosive device as the foot patrol was returning to base in the Upper Sangin Valley in Helmand province.

Sapper Little, from Preston, is now being treated at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham and is expected to make a good recovery.

'Clear courage'

In a statement released by the Ministry of Defence, Sapper Little said he was in "the best of hands" and looking forward to making a swift recovery.

He said: "I am very grateful for the support both I and my family have had since returning to the UK.

"My thoughts are now very much with the families of the members of the patrol who died, and also with the families of all the others who have died in Afghanistan and with my mates who are still out there."

The commanding officer of 2 Para, Lieutenant Colonel Joe O'Sullivan, said the men had died "doing their duty and doing their best" and had demonstrated the "clear, cold courage which is the hallmark of their comrades and their regiment".

The four men involved in Sunday's attack were evacuated to Camp Bastion, but one was pronounced dead on arrival, and the other two died from their wounds.

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