A Defence inquiry into the death of SAS Commando Jason Marks, has confirmed he was not wearing a helmet at the time.
Lance-Corporal Marks’s unit was making a strategic movement aimed at restricting the Taliban in late April, when the Australians came under heavy enemy gunfire from concealed locations.
Vice Chief of the Defence Force David Hurley says the fallen soldier was killed while returning to his vehicle, after instructing his driver to engage the Taliban.
“The inquiry officer found that Corporal Marks was killed instantly by a single gunshot to his head,” he said.
“Corporal Marks was wearing the standard Special Forces-issue chest webbing, including front and rear ballistic plates but was not wearing a helmet.
“The inquiry officer concluded that wearing a helmet would not have saved his life.”