British soldier wounded in Afghanistan dies in UK hospital

The soldier is the second British serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan this year

A British soldier has died in a UK hospital from wounds suffered in combat in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The soldier was from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

He was serving in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand province when he was injured by enemy action on Monday.

The soldier was flown back to the UK for treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where he died on Wednesday. His family has been told.

Maj Chris Boryer, spokesman for Task Force Helmand, said: "It is my solemn duty to report the death of a soldier from 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment who has died as a result of wounds sustained whilst on duty in the Lashkar Gah district of Helmand Province.

"The thoughts and prayers of everyone serving in Task Force Helmand are with his family and friends at this extremely difficult time."

The soldier is the second British serviceman to be killed in Afghanistan in 2013.

Sapper Richard Walker died in an insider attack by a suspected member of the Afghan National Army in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand last week.

Sapper Walker, 23, from Leeds, was from 28 Engineer Regiment attached to 21 Engineer Regiment.

A total of 440 British service personnel have been killed in Afghanistan since operations began in October 2001.