typicallyspanish.com

Spain News : National
+ Larger Font | + Smaller Font
A Spanish solidier has died in an accident in Afghanistan
By m.p - May 27, 2007 - 10:11 PM
ALSO SEE : • Spanish legionairres return from Afghanistan - Jul 7, 2008 - 5:58 AM
• The man who murdered a Spanish journalist and three others has been executed in Afghanistan - Oct 8, 2007 - 10:30 PM

Juan Antonio Abril Sánchez, who died in Afghanistan on Saturday. Photo – Defence Ministry/EFE.
enlarge photo

Sergeant Juan Antonio Abril Sánchez becomes the 129th Spanish casualty on missions abroad
A sergeant assigned to Spanish troops in Afghanistan has died in an accident in Badghis, some 25 kms from the Spanish base in Qala e Naw.

It happened on Saturday, when the team’s VAMTAC - High Mobility Tactical Vehicle – accidentally overturned while on patrol in the Qades district. He is named as Infantry Sergeant Juan Antonio Abril Sánchez, a 31 year old married man from Zaragoza.

Two others were slightly injured in the accident: 23 year old Juan Pablo Balarezo Delgado, from Quito in Ecuador, and Jacobo del Cristo Pérez Salas, who is from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, and is 21.

The sergeant’s body and the two injured men are due to be flown back to Spain on Monday morning.

Juan Antonio Abril Sánchez becomes the 129th Spanish casualty to die on missions abroad.

The scene of the Yak-42 crash site in Turkey. Photo – EFE Archives.
enlarge photo

---

His death came on the fourth anniversary of the Yak-42 tragedy in Turkey 2003, when 62 military personnel died in an air crash as they were returning home after four months service on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan. None survived the crash.

A Cabinet meeting on Friday voted in favour of a proposal made by the Defence Minsiter, José Antonio Alonso, for posthumous military promotions for all the Yak-42 victims in recognition of the debt of gratitude owed by the Spanish state.


 smartphone/pda/iphone |  email this article |  printer friendly page

 del.icio.us |  digg |  technorati |  yahoo | Stumble It!
Facebook | Reddit | Newsvine | Meneame | Wikio | Blink

ALSO SEE :
• Spanish legionairres return from Afghanistan - Jul 7, 2008 - 5:58 AM
• The man who murdered a Spanish journalist and three others has been executed in Afghanistan - Oct 8, 2007 - 10:30 PM
• Spanish royals preside over state funeral for two soldiers killed in Afghanistan - Sep 26, 2007 - 11:37 PM
• The funeral for the two Spaniards killed in Afghanistan this week takes place in Madrid today - Sep 26, 2007 - 7:58 AM
• Spain to increase UN Afghan deployment by 52 troops - Sep 25, 2007 - 10:51 PM
• Cable found after fatal attack on Spanish patrol in Afghanistan - Sep 25, 2007 - 12:21 AM
• Two Spanish soldiers killed in Afghanistan - Sep 24, 2007 - 12:48 PM
• Four Spanish soldiers injured in Afghanistan when ambulance overturns - Sep 13, 2007 - 12:35 PM
• Spain to sponsor a new unit to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan - Aug 12, 2007 - 4:27 PM
• Spain to send 14 officers to Afghanistan police mission - May 14, 2007 - 10:54 PM