British soldier dies of wounds from Afghanistan blast

A British serviceman has died of wounds he sustained in a blast in Afghanistan that had already killed another soldier, the ministry of defence said on Sunday.

A British serviceman has died of wounds he sustained in a blast in Afghanistan that had already killed another soldier, the ministry of defence said on Sunday.

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The member of the Royal Air Force (RAF) was travelling in a vehicle that was blown up in an explosion south of Kabul on Thursday, a statement said.

"It is with great sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm the death of a member of the Royal Air Force on Friday 23rd December 2011," the statement said, adding that his family had been informed.

"He was flown back to the UK (after the blast) where sadly he died of his wounds at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham."

The other soldier who died and whose death was announced on Thursday was a Royal Marine who was reportedly serving with British special forces.

The death announced today brings to 393 the number of British servicemen killed in Afghanistan, and the 45th death this year.

Most of the fatalities have occurred in strife-torn Helmand province in southern Afghanistan, where the majority of Britain's 9,500 troops are based.