Two British soldiers were thrown from their vehicle when it strayed from a proven track to keep an eye on trainee Afghan soldiers following behind and drove over a landmine, an inquest has heard.
Lance Corporal Nigel Moffett, 28, of the Light Dragoons, and Corporal Stephen Bolger, 30, of the Parachute Regiment, were killed near the village of Chadi, near Musa Qala in Helmand province.
L/Cpl Moffett, who lived in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Cpl Bolger, who lived in Motherwell, Scotland, were on a reconnaissance mission when their Jackal armoured vehicle drove over the explosive device.
Colonel Frederick Kemp, of the Parachute Regiment, and a member of the Defence Inquests Unit, told the inquest the Jackal, fifth in a patrol of 11 vehicles, turned as it ascended up from a riverbed, or "wadi". He said: "The vehicle was negotiating a steep climb up the side of the wadi, as the vehicle crested the ridge line, it turned to the left in what all witnesses assumed was a manoeuvre to allow them to observe the progress of the Afghan National Army (ANA) vehicles."
He went on: "As the vehicle moved off, there was a large explosion beneath the vehicle. Cpl Bolger was found 10 metres in front of the damaged Jackal and L/Cpl Moffett was found 20 to 25 metres to the front."
It was immediately apparent L/Cpl Moffett had been killed instantly, Col Kemp said.
Cpl Bolger was unconscious but still had a pulse. Both soldiers were airlifted to hospital at Camp Bastion, but Cpl Bolger succumbed to his wounds while airborne.
At the time of the explosion on May 30 2009, Cpl Bolger and L/Cpl Moffett were members of the 19 Light Brigade Reconnaissance Force (BRF), the inquest heard.
Cpl Bolger had specific responsibilities for mentoring the Afghan National Army (ANA). Cpl Bolger was commander of the Jackal and L/Cpl Moffett was the driver. They were joined by gunner Lance Corporal Dean Forsyth, of the Black Watch, and a locally employed interpreter, who both survived.
A post-mortem examination conducted by Dr Nicholas Hunt, Home Office forensic pathologist, found the cause of death for both soldiers to be blast wounds caused by an explosion. Coroner David Ridley recorded a verdict of unlawful killing for both men.
