Under fire from insurgent forces and with five comrades seriously injured, Sergeant Barry Kirkland had to take decisive action.
A Special Forces unit comprising two US marines, two Afghan army commandos and an interpreter had been ambushed on patrol in Helmand Province. Hidden Taliban fighters detonated a buried bomb as the team moved through an area of open ground.
The explosion tore through the team, with one casualty losing three limbs, another suffering horrific facial injuries and the others affected by blast and shrapnel wounds.
Huddling for cover against a compound, they awaited the arrival of rescuers, with an RAF Chinook and its 12-strong crew scrambled to the scene.
Touching down, a four-man RAF force protection team deployed from the rear of the aircraft, followed by Perth-born Sergeant Kirkland, who is now based at RAF Odiham in Hampshire.
The Royal Air Force medic, who has faced combat in theatres across the globe, was forced to put his life on the line as he himself became involved in a fire-fight as he attempted to reach the casualties.
For his bravery he has now received a Joint Commander’s Commendation, announced in the latest operation honours at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, for his part in saving the lives of the five injured soldiers.
Sergeant Kirkland, 38, described the incident, which took place during his last tour of duty in Afghanistan on June 12.
“As soon as we landed, insurgents on the roof of a compound opened up and started engaging my four-man protection team. My bodyguard broke off to directly engage the insurgents, leaving me to make contact with the casualties.
“I could see them about 250 feet away, huddled in cover. They were obviously in a bad way. They were really struggling. As I beckoned them to come towards me, two further insurgent opened up on me and I had to engage them.”
In doing so, Sergeant Kirkland became one of only a very few RAF medical personnel who have had to engage the Taliban to enable the treatment of casualties.
Following an exchange of gunfire, the five injured soldiers were able to make their way to the medic.
“Once all the casualties were on board, we called back the protection team and took off to make the 20-minute flight to Camp Bastion,” Sergeant Kirkland continued.
“I had to switch very quickly from a fire-fight to medical role as the triple amputee was my patient and they required speedy stabilisation and treatment.”
On-board he and his three medical colleagues worked on the casualties before they were delivered into the care of the emergency facility at Bastion.
He said it had been “a great honour” to receive the commendation but, although pleased to accept it, added that he wished to “share it with all the Royal Air Force paramedics who have served, and are still serving, as part of the medical emergency response team on Operation Herrick.”
He will return to Afghanistan in September for a third tour of duty.