Kajaki Dam Incident

The Kajaki Dam Incident occurred on the 6 September 2006, when 4 Soviet Union anti-personnel mines, which were left undetonated since the Cold War, were detonated by soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, British Army. 1 soldier was fatally wounded and 7 others sustained serious injuries during the blasts.

Kajaki Dam Incident
Part of the War in Afghanistan
Date 6 September 2006 Location Kajaki Dam, Helmand Province, Afghanistan Result 1 dead and 7 others injured
Belligerents
UK 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment	Undetonated Soviet anti-personnel mines
Commanders and leaders
Stuart Tootal Stuart Pearson
Strength
3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment 1 MH-47 Chinook 1 UH-60 Black Hawk	4 Soviet anti-personal mines (detonated)
Casualties and losses
1 killed 7 wounded

Background

The troops were based at "Normandy" outpost in Helmand. They were there to protect the Afghanistan village of Kajaki from the Taliban militant group.

Incident

In the early hours of the 6th September 2006, Taliban activity was spotted in the form of a checkpoint being set up by armed militants. [1] Corporal Stu Pearson, who was commander of the Normandy outpost, was alerted by Hale to the activity and was informed that Hale could potentially engage the militants with his sniper rifle.[1] However, they had spotted a more suitable vantage point across the dam.[1] As they traversed the landscape towards their vantage point, Stewart Hale stood on and triggered a land mine, causing his right leg to be removed from his body and his right hand sustaining serious injuries including the loss of a finger; he initially thought he had been hit by a mortar shell.[2] The remaining paratroopers in the dam began to administer first aid and a tourniquet while calling for support from any surrounding units and a winch from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. This was important as a Black Hawk has a winch to winch injured up and the downforce of the blades is low, avoiding any danger of triggering more mines in the minefield.[1] As more troopers arrived, Hales was moved onto a small embankment on the side of the riverbed. This is when Stewart Pearson went to retrieve a water bottle left at the scene where Hale was being treated when he then triggered another explosion.[3] Mark Wright had requested a Black Hawk helicopter, equipped with a winch to winch the men out of the dam and avoid having to land a helicopter in the minefield, potentially triggering more mines. However, a Black Hawk was not available at the time, so a Chinook helicopter was dispatched. The downdraught of the Chinook's blades caused a third mine to be detonated causing further injuries.[4]

Aftermath

5 of the British Paratroopers involved in the incident sued the British Ministry of Defence for "breaching their duty of care". [5]

In popular culture

Film

• The British film "Kajaki" (2014), is based on the Kajaki dam incident.

References

1. "Kajaki: Turning a remarkable Afghanistan escape into a film". The Independent. 2014-11-17. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
2. Heaney, Paul (November 25, 2014). "Hurt soldier's hope for Afghan film" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
3. Correspondent, Thomas Harding, Defence (2007-11-10). "Mine victims to return to the frontline". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
4. "Justice For Soldiers After Horrific Kajaki Minefield Incident". Irwin Mitchell. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
5. Correspondent, Thomas Harding, Defence (2007-02-28). "Troops blown up by Afghan mines sue MoD". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2020-05-15.