Cause of Death: |
Died of wounds, taking part in a routine vehicle/dismounted mentoring patrol with members of the Afghan National Army (ANA) to the south of Checkpoint SERAJ ULHAQ and Highway 1, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. The purpose of the patrol was to try and establish friends in the community and to identify landowners. The patrol vehicles were left at a start point (ZULU MUSTER) where the six International Security Assistance Force soldiers and an eight man ANA team set off on their dismounted patrol. He remained behind providing security and a communications link for the patrol from a JACKAL armoured vehicle. In addition, two members of the ANA also remained with their vehicles. At approximately 10h00 hours, shortly after the patrol had begun their journey back to the start point, Small Arms Fire was heard and L/Cpl Watkins was seen to collapse down into the JACKAL vehicle out of sight. Almost simultaneously the patrol came under sustained and accurate Small Arms Fire from one of the ANA troops who successfully made his escape. When the shooting stopped, the Patrol Commander and Patrol Medic ran to their vehicles where they discovered L/Cpl Watkins with major gunshot wounds to his head and face. It was immediately obvious that he had died virtually immediately as a result of these wounds. L/Cpl Watkins was evacuated by Pedro Helicopter to the Role 3 (UK) Field Hospital at Camp Bastion where he was certified dead on arrival at 12h20 hours Saturday 16 July 2011. His body was repatriated to the United Kingdom through RAF Brize Norton on Thursday 21 March 2011. |
