A roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan has killed a Canadian soldier nearing the end of his second rotation, and wounded seven others, in Kandahar province's Panjwaii district.
Sgt. Scott Shipway, an infantryman with the 2nd battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, died less than a week before he was set to go home, Brig. Gen. Denis Thompson told reporters Sunday at a new conference in Kandahar.
"Scott was a seasoned veteran ... a dedicated father and a Saskatchewan Roughriders fan," Thompson said.
He added that fellow-soldiers called him "Papa Shipway" and his motto was "never let a comrade down."
His dedication was apparent when he helped save a fellow soldier's life during a roadside bomb attack in 2006.
"At that time, he disregarded the danger to himself, secured the area of the blast and began treating the casualties, including one who had lost both his legs," Thompson said.
"Using the radio he got direction from the chief surgeon and was able to stop the bleeding, thereby saving that soldier's life.
Shipway was cited for his quick reaction.
Thompson said friends and other soldiers admired Shipway because he never "sugarcoated the truth."
"He always gave you an honest answer, whether you wanted it or not," the general said.
Shipway was based at CFB Shilo and had joined the military in 1991. He had previously completed tours of duty in Cyprus, Bosnia, and Kosovo.
The injured soldiers were well enough to personally tell their loved ones they were okay, Thompson said.
Another IED death
Despite efforts last month in trying to rid the Kandahar countryside of the improvised explosive devices, Shipway became the 11th soldier to by killed by an IED this year.
Operations in August targeted command and control centres where IEDs were being produced in neighbouring Zhari district, and Thompson told The Canadian Press that now it seems his troops have their "work cut out" for them in Panjwaii.
Shipway's death brings the number of Canadian deaths in Afghanistan to 97. Three Canadian soldiers were killed in an incident four days ago.
Pte. Chad Horn and Cpls. Andrew Grenon and Mike Seggie were killed in an ambush while conducting a security patrol in the volatile Zhari district on Wednesday.
Five other soldiers were wounded in that attack.
The bodies of the three soldiers arrived back in Canada on Saturday evening.
With files from The Canadian Press
