Afghanistan war: Evison and medics linked by blood

Lieutenant Mark Evison, 26, died last May as he led his platoon from 1st Battalion Welsh Guards out on a patrol to secure compounds and “dominate” the Haji Alem area of Nad-e-Ali district, Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Channel 4 News has exclusively obtained combat video footage showing the moments leading up to Lt Evison’s death.

In the weeks leading up to his death, Mark Evison kept a journal. In it he spoke of the situation on the ground in Afghanistan, his hopes, his fears and spoke fondly of his mother and home.

After being shot by a Taliban sniper on 9 May, Mark Evison was eventually extracted by helicopter to Camp Bastion field hospital. Emergency surgery lasting at least six hours saw him receive up to 42 pints of blood. Some of the medical staff themselves had to donate their own blood directly to Mark as they battled to save his life.

In the final hours of his time in Afghanistan before being medically evacuated to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, where he eventually died three days later, his nursing staff at Camp Bastion kept a separate Bastion hospital diary up-to-date, adding entries in the hope that one day he would be able to read them.

He never had chance to read them, falling into a coma he never regained consciousness. His mother Margaret Evison has given Channel 4 News exclusive access to the hospital diary entries written by the nurses at Camp Bastion.

The advising consultant trauma surgeon at Lt Mark Evison’s Inquest, Stuart Matthews wrote in his medical report, referred to at the Inquest: “It is indeed remarkable that he (Mark) survived so long and the actions of the surgeons, anaesthetists and other staff at Camp Bastion was nothing short of heroic.”

More on this story
Afghanistan war video: see how my son died
Exclusive: the mother of British officer Mark Evison killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan tells Channel 4 News she wants the world to see the video showing the moments leading up to her son's death.
Rupert Thorneloe tribute to Mark Evison
Exclusive: Channel 4 News publishes a letter written to Lt Evison's mother by his commanding officer, Lt Col Rupert Thorneloe, who himself became the highest ranking soldier to die in the Afghanistan war.
Evison and medics linked by blood
Exclusive: Lt Mark Evison underwent hours of emergency surgery at Camp Bastion on 9 May 2009, receiving 42 pints of blood. Written by his nurses, Channel 4 News publishes the Bastion hospital diaries.
Afghanistan war diaries reveal Evison's kit warnings
Just 28 days before Lt Mark Evison died he wrote a diary in which he vented frustrations and concerns over equipment shortages in the Afghanistan War. In his own words, this is Mark's story.

Mark Evison’s Bastion hospital diary
9.5.2009 17.00 Mark, My name is #####, I’m a ## ####### #####. I’ve been with you since you came into intensive care at 13.00 hours. Everyone has been doing everything possible to help you recover.

– ###### the lad injured with you is routing for you. I’ve been to see him

– Padre ###### from the Welsh Guards has been to see you and the hospital Padre ###### said a blessing for you.

Your are in theatre for the second time at this moment.

– Plans are being made to get you back to the UK, the RAF have confirmed that the critical care support team have been mobilised, so are on their way soon.

20.30 Mark your back from theatre, several of the hospital staff have given you their blood, as you’ve used up the hospital supply! The ########## gave you his platelets, he’s ######## – says they’re good quality as ####### makes good beer.

You have had 30+ units of blood, 30+units of plasma. 3 doses factor 7 @ £7000 each. So I can quote your service number and hospital no. I’ve checked it so many times today. ##### X

If your family get to read this my heart goes out to them. You have a brave son. Good luck. ####.

9/5/09 20.55 Hi Mark I’m ###### ######, the ###### ##### for the hospital. I was in theatre with you – helping with the fetching, carrying, and cleaning up of all that blood. They’ve let me sit down for a while – but only if I let them ‘bleed’ me to give you some of my ‘nurse’ blood…I’ve donated many, many times over the years – but you’ve been the first patient I’ve been privileged to see actually receiving my blood – its trickling through as I write this!! Unlike the ######## platelets …my blood has benefited from the occasional glass of red wine to give it quality (I have expensive taste in wine). Will come to see you in the morning. ######.

22.00 Mark I’m off to my Tent now, should have gone 2 hours ago, but couldn’t leave until I knew you were OK. I’ve just counted up your blood usage 45 blood, 36 plasma. Your co offered to bring some of the lads in to give you theirs! See you tomorrow. ##### X

09.05.09 20.00-10.05.09 8.00 Hi Mark my name is #### and I have been your nurse overnight. You have kept me busy Mark but I don’t mind, we all want you to do well. Quite an eventful night, very unstable with your blood pressure, we needed to find two more units of blood and two FFP for you. Dr ####### has stayed up and spent most of the night at your bedside as have I. It makes me sad to see you so sick and I hope against hope that your condition improves. If your family get to read this my heart goes out to them. You have a brave son. Good luck. ####.

British fatalities in Afghanistan – full list

Channel 4 News has charted the war from patrols in the northern mountains to current bitter fighting, writes Alex Thomson
The mission since the invasion and occupation almost a decade ago now, has widened and spread beyond all recognition into de facto nation building from the new trunk road connecting the capital Kabul with Kandahar in the south - to giving Afghans the dubious benefits of voting and a bi-cameral western "democratic" model.

Not bad ambition then, for a country built upon tribal fiat and warlord muscle, valley by valley, poppy field by poppy field, alongside hefty interference with money and weapons and know-how from Iran to the west, Pakistan has the east and the former Russian republics to the north: the Great Game continues alive and well.
So down the near decade of war now, Channel 4 News has charted that stark war from the horse-mounted patrols of the British armies in the northern mountains, to the current bitter fighting across the poppy and wheat fields of southern Helmand Province. 

Afghanistan: taking on the Taliban - special report