An Australian soldier serving with the Special Operations Task Group (SOTG) in Afghanistan has been killed in a road-side bomb attack in Afghanistan.

Chief of the Defence Force, Air Chief Marshal Angus (ACM) Houston said the soldier was killed Tuesday afternoon (AEST) when Australian soldiers were conducting a patrol in southern Afghanistan.

“Signaller Sean McCarthy, who was 25 years of age and from the Perth based Special Air Service Regiment, was killed yesterday afternoon when the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a road-side bomb,” Air Chief Marshal Houston said.

Two other Australian soldiers were also wounded by the Improvised Explosive Device (IED). Their condition is assessed as serious but stable. Due to the nature of wounds, a medical assessment has not yet been concluded to determine whether they will be required to return to Australia for further medical treatment.

Listen to audio