British fatality in Afghanistan (corrected)

The Ministry of Defence has announced the 43rd British fatality in Afghanistan (not Iraq, as I initially stupidly and inexplicably put in the title of this post, for which abject apologies).

...elements from the UK Task Force were patrolling to the north of Now Zad, a district in the North of Helmand, when they came under attack from Taliban forces.

During the contact the Marine was hit by small arms fire and fatally wounded. An emergency quick reaction helicopter along with a full medical team was immediately dispatched to Now Zad. The marine was then evacuated to the UK hospital at Camp Bastion, where he was sadly pronounced dead. Next of kin have now been informed.

No other servicemen were injured.

The Marine will be named after a period of grace for the family.

The BBC has an early report.

Tags: Afghanistan, Royal Marines