Paras shouted at crew not to land

Cpl Wright was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his actions

Soldiers stranded in an Afghanistan minefield told an inquest they screamed at the helicopter crew not to land for fear of setting off further explosions.

The Chinook had been sent in to rescue the Parachute Regiment's 3rd Battalion troops injured by blasts after a sniper had strayed into the danger zone.

The downdraft of the Chinook was blamed for setting off a mine which killed Cpl Mark Wright, 27, from Edinburgh.

The soldiers requested a helicopter with a winch but none was available.

The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court heard that instead, the Chinook, which was not fitted with a winch, was dispatched but was waved away for fear of causing further explosions as it tried to land.

As it took off a mine did explode, causing Cpl Wright severe shrapnel wounds from which he later died.

As I walked back from rock to rock, as I took my foot off a rock it landed straight on a mine Cpl Stuart Pearson Inquest witness

Six others were injured, including three who lost limbs, during the tragedy in the region of Kajaki in Helmand Province on 6 September 2006.

Two American Black Hawk helicopters, fitted with winches, were eventually sent to rescue the soldiers.

Cpl Wright, who was trying to save the life of a comrade, was posthumously awarded a George Cross medal, the second highest military honour for bravery.

The inquest heard that despite his injuries he was still joking after the explosion to boost the morale of his comrades.

Cpl Wright was part of a Colchester-based platoon that was protecting the area around Kajaki Dam.

Sniper Lance Cpl Stuart Hale told the inquest he had decided to move forward from the platoon's position down to a ridge with the intention of getting closer to take a shot at a Taleban roadblock.

He told the hearing that as he made his way down the mine exploded.

Took cover

Cpl Stuart Pearson said he thought Cpl Hale had got the mission approved and believed the area where the minefield was located was safe.

He said as Cpl Hale made his way to the ridge he heard an explosion and saw smoke.

Cpl Pearson, who is now a sergeant, told the inquest that as they got closer he told the group to walk rock to rock to avoid any mines.

The inquest heard that Cpl Pearson planned to move his injured colleague to a safe position so when the helicopter did arrive they could try and throw him on board.

He said he then saw mounds with white rocks on top and realised they were in a minefield and radioed in again.

Cpl Pearson said he cleared a safe route for Cpl Hale's extraction. He added: "As I walked back from rock to rock, as I took my foot off a rock it landed straight on a mine."

He said when the Chinook tried to land, Cpl Wright was shielding him from the downdraft when a blast went off.

Combat Medic Lance Cpl Paul Hartley told the inquest he was treating Cpl Hale as the Chinook arrived.

He said when the Chinook landed the crew waved at the soldiers to go towards it but he signalled for the helicopter to leave because of the danger and took cover.

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