First female officer killed in Afghanistan died defusing daisy-chain of bombs

Captain Lisa Jade Head was fatally injured while clearing an alley laced with IEDs Photo: PA

 

Captain Lisa Head is believed to be the first ever female bomb disposal officer to be killed on operations after she died from wounds sustained on Monday.

The officer was clearing an alleyway laced with IEDs (Improvised Explosive Device) for a patrol of paratroopers in one of the most dangerous parts of Helmand when she received the fatal injuries.

Colleagues said she “placed herself into danger so that others may be kept safe”. A fellow officer called her “the bravest and most courageous woman I have ever met”.

In a statement her parents and sister said: “We are extremely proud of Lisa. Lisa always said that she had the best job in the world and she loved every second of it. Lisa had a fantastic life and lived it to the full.”

Capt Head, 29, who had worked in Northern Ireland’s counter-IED teams, had already safely defused one hidden bomb when she was hit while dealing with the second. The string of devices were placed in alleyway used by both Afghans and men from 2nd Bn The Parachute Regiment from Patrol Base Four in the Nar-e-Saraj district. She was 22 days into her six month tour of Afghanistan.

The officer is the second British female soldier to be killed in Afghanistan following the death of Cpl Sarah Bryant who died with three colleagues who were blown up in a Snatch Land Rover in 2008. Six servicewomen were killed in Iraq.

Capt Head, of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps, received praise from a range of colleagues after she died in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham on Tuesday.
She was admired for her “selfless commitment” in dealing with the “most dangerous of threats in Afghanistan”.
The officer was described as a “strong-willed Yorkshire lass” who enjoyed banter with colleagues while having a cigarette.
Her boss Major Al Brown said she displayed an “easy confidence about undertaking the most demanding and nerve testing of jobs anywhere in the world”.
Lt Col Adam McRae, her commanding officer, said: “Lisa deployed to Afghanistan with the full knowledge of the threats she would face. These dangers did not faze her.
“Her potential was considerable and she will be an enormous loss to us all.
“She sits proudly along side our recent fallen, several of whom were her close friends which I know inspired her to deploy to Afghanistan.
Capt Head, who studied human biology at Huddersfield University, originally trained as an Air Transport Liaison Officer, deploying to Iraq in 2006 and Afghanistan in 2007.
She then made a dramatic career change by choosing to pursue a bomb disposal career. She passed the Ammunition Technical Officer course then went on to become one of the few women to pass the coveted High Threat Operators Course which set her at the pinnacle of the bomb disposal profession.
Her loss was called a “tragedy at every level” by Lt Col Andrew Harrison, 2 Para’s commanding officer.
“Having just arrived in our area, she immediately took on the task of clearing devices from one of the most dangerous areas in Helmand Province.”
He added that her “cool, considered valour defined her nature”.
“Lisa died to make this world a safer place for all.”
Liam Fox, the Defence Secretary, said: We owe a great debt of gratitude for her bravery and her commitment in her professional role, and for the sacrifice she has made to defend our national security.”
Her death brings the total number of British dead in Afghanistan to 364.