I missed death by 2 inches
But Taliban bullets killed hero comrade
Our war heroes go into battle
A HERO soldier told last night how he cheated death when a Taliban bullet missed his heart by just TWO INCHES.
A hail of bullets tore into Lieutenant Oli Cochrane as he led his team of brave Gurkhas in a fierce gun battle in Afghanistan.
The rounds smashed into his backpack and one even lodged in his radio-inches from his HEART.
Astonishingly Oli was unijured . . . although one of his men was killed in the firefight.
You can watch video of our heroes in action in Afghanistan by clicking on the screen above.
Oli, 25, said: "We were stuck out in the open, rounds were dropping at our feet. I couldn't talk to the boys on the radio and it was only afterwards I found a round had penetrated mine and made it useless.
"Additional shots hit my daysack. It was a very close call for me personally but nothing compared to the courage displayed by the boys."
The 24-hour battle to drive the Taliban out of the Musa Qala district-was one of the fiercest yet in the lawless Helmand Province.
Oli's 5 Platoon of B Company, 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles seized a cache of weapons, opium and a homemade landmine. But soldier Yubraj Rai died in the attack-becoming the first Gurkha to be killed in Afghanistan.
Rifleman Dhan Gurung gave first aid while still fighting the enemy. Two others sprinted 100 metres with bullets peppering the ground around them to help drag his body to safety.
Last night Oli paid tribute to the bravery of his troops who tried to rescue 28-year-old Yubraj after he was shot.
He said: "These individuals showed immense courage, refusing to leave an injured man behind. They acted with disregard for their own lives as they moved through open ground under fire. We are all incredibly proud of their actions.
"When we realised Rifleman Yubraj had died I had to tell the platoon on the ground. The shock was apparent. Our thoughts are with his family and friends."
Describing the moment his friend was hit, Rifleman Dhan said: "Yubraj dropped on the ground and I did the same. I thought he was taking cover. He didn't move for a while and suddenly shouted.
"I noticed he was hit by an enemy bullet. I tried to calm him down, administered first aid and gave him some water.
"I was responding to enemy fire using both mine and Yub's weapon. We managed to evacuate him to a compound where the medical team arrived."
He added: "I didn't think we would come back alive. I was shocked at how close the rounds had been. I felt helpless not being able to save Yubraj. I am so sad to lose him."
Lt Col Chris Darby, who directed the battle earlier this month, added: "We lost a very good man."
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This article has 4 comments
it's proper injustice and discriminated to gurkhas because they are fighting for this country and dying too.but they get binned when they are out of service which i think the government should respond and make the decision sooner than later..
By jack. Posted November 27 2008 at 10:35 PM.
A real hero, lucky too.
By Inna. Posted November 25 2008 at 7:18 PM.
Two Gurkhas, Ubraj Rai on 4th November and C/Sgt. Krishna Dura were killed in Afghanistan. They very bravely sacificed their life of the British cause.
However, the Gurkhas are now fighting in the British Court against MoD for FAIR JUSTICE AND EQUAL RIGHT. So, how you could imagine these injustice engineered by the British Government.
By c b gurung. Posted November 24 2008 at 4:19 AM.
Has anyone got an address where we can writ to soilders????
By laura. Posted November 23 2008 at 11:37 PM.