Canadian medic killed by explosion in Afghanistan
Updated Mon. Jul. 7 2008 7:41 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
A Canadian military medic was killed by an explosion during an early morning foot patrol in Afghanistan on Sunday.
The blast, which killed Pte. Colin William Wilmot, occurred in the Panjwaii district near Kandahar city.
Wilmot had not been scheduled to join the current rotation in Afghanistan but had demanded to be sent.
"He quickly marched in to see his regiment sergeant-major to indicate he was eager to serve,'' said Brig.-Gen. Denis Thompson, Canada's top soldier in Afghanistan.
"Colin wanted it known that should a spot become available on the mission, he wanted in.
"He was selected to fill a vacancy soon after, because he was motivated, he was skilled, and because he was eager to make a difference in the lives of ordinary Afghans.''
Friends of Wilmot remembered him for his "perpetually sunny disposition," Alexander Panetta, a reporter with The Canadian Press, told CTV's Canada AM on Monday.
"It's just something that came up a few times in comments from his peers -- that he was always smiling, always in a good mood, and inclined to help others," Panetta reported from Kandahar.
Wilmot, who was based out of Edmonton, is the 87th Canadian soldier to be killed in the mission in Afghanistan.
He is the first Canadian soldier killed in combat since early June.
Wilmot is survived by his fiancee Laura. His age has not been released.
With files from The Canadian Press
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...hub=TopStories