Slain soldier's body arrives in New Zealand

Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell. Photo / Supplied

The plane carrying the casket of Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell and his
wounded comrades touched down on a rainy tarmac at Whenupai.

The lights of the undercarriage appeared through the grey skies above
Auckland shortly before 3pm as family members of Lieutenant O'Donnell,
Lance Corporal Matthew Ball and Private Allister Baker sheltered under
umbrellas.

It has been a long wait for the three families. News of the attack on
Lt O'Donnell's convoy reached New Zealand early on Thursday morning.

The three were part of a 12-man patrol in Afghanistan's Bamiyan
province when an explosive went off and they came under fire from
rocket propelled grenades and gunfire on Wednesday NZT.

The landing of the Air Force B757 was deafening and touched down in
front of members of the three families dressed in black and wearing
poppies. They were joined by military personnel wearing black
armbands. Some family members went aboard the flight to see their
loved ones moments after it landed.

A truck fitted with a hydraulic tray was then driven up alongside to
lower L Cpl Ball and Pte Baker on stretchers before they were loaded
into ambulances and taken to hospital.

Both soldiers sat up on their stretchers. A cut under the left eye of
Pte Baker could be seen.

The plane then taxied out of view of the media where the casket of Lt
O'Donnell was removed from the plane.

Army chief General Major Rhys Jones said the family were given time to
be with the casket before it was placed in a hearse.

L Cpl Ball and Pte Baker were taken to hospital by ambulance. They will
stay there for one or two nights and were adamant they would be at the
funeral of Lt O'Donnell on Wednesday at Linton Army Camp with full
military honours.

"The family have requested a formal military service. The family know
Tim wanted to be in the military for a long time and this is a fitting
send off for him," Maj-Gen Jones said.

Tomorrow his casket will be flown to the Ohakea Air Base west of
Palmerston North, where it will be given into the care of the army in
an official ramp ceremony, a salute to the fallen.

Maj-Gen Jones said the wounded soldiers will undergo psychiatric assessments and tests for post-traumatic stress disorders and will be given time to recover both physically and mentally.

"This has been a tragic week for the army but unfortunately one of the
realities about life in the army," Maj-Gen Jones said.

He said L Cpl Ball and Pte Baker were "upbeat" about returning to New
Zealand and being reunited with their families.

Maj-Gen said the two soldiers had asked to return with the body of Lt O'Donnell.

He said an investigation into the attack will look at anything that
could have been done better and will recognise any special acts of
bravery by the soldiers.