SAS hero ‘runs through hail of bullets to save wounded combat dog during Taliban gunfight in Afghanistan’
AN SAS hero dashed through a storm of bullets to save his wounded combat dog, it's been revealed.
The amazing story of courage has emerged as the soldier is nominated for a bravery award.
The sergeant carried the stricken animal over 50 yards of open ground during a firefight in Afghanistan.
Sources told he then kept the dog alive during a 20-minute helicopter ride to safety.
The pair came under fire from inside a Taliban compound during a 'kill or capture' operation.
“The dog was very badly injured – it was limping and bleeding profusely," the source said.
“It was moving so slowly it was at risk of suffering further wounds.
“The handler ran across open ground, picked it up and carried him back to a safe area.
HERO'S COURAGE
“Once the target was neutralised, the SAS withdrew to a rendezvous point and were picked up by the choppers.
"The dog was in a very bad way but he was kept alive during the flight then operated on back at a British base and survived.
“He was later sent back to the UK and given further treatment.”
It’s not yet known whether the dog will return to active service.
The battle took place in Helmand about nine months ago.
It happened after the SAS learned 14 members of the Taliban were murdering locals they believed had been helping government troops.
BRITISH LION
They were found holed up in a compound 100 miles south of Kabul.
Up to 14 SAS and Afghan commandos surrounded the fort.
The Ministry of Defence does not comment on special forces operations.
Last year, we exclusively told the story of Christian Craighead, who was awarded so many medals for his brave service that he needed to reinforce his suit.
They included the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross — Britain’s second highest bravery award — for defeating al-Shabaab jihadists in a 19-hour battle in 2019.
The former sergeant, who has also won an MBE and a Mention in Dispatches, posted pictures of himself having a dinner suit specially adapted on London’s Savile Row.
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And back in 2018, a dog saved the lives of six SAS soldiers on patrol in northern Syria when they were ambushed.
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The unit were on a routine patrol with the Belgian Malinois, a breed of sheepdog, when they were attacked from all sides in what was described as a “360 degree ambush.”
The animal tore one of the jihadi's throats open. It then attacked two others, leaving them seriously wounded before the remaining six ambushers fled.