A 40 Commando ROYAL Marine oversaw the evacuation of injured colleagues - despite being hit three times himself.

Lieut Jack Anrude was patrolling with the Afghan National Army in a village in Sangin when a lone insurgent opened fire, injuring three of them, including Lieut Anrude, who was shot in the arm, head and took shrapnel wounds to his legs.

He said: “As we approached the local mosque, the usual pattern of life was missing and there was already a sense that something suspicious was happening from within the compound walls.

“We were trying to speak to one of the village elders, and an insurgent suddenly appeared behind a gate and fired about 30 rounds at us with an AK47 assault rifle.

“Five rounds hit the ANA soldier in the leg and one of my IED searchers was hit in the right ankle.

“I was shot in the right arm and received fragmentation injuries to my legs, as well as being hit in the head - thankfully my helmet saved me.”

Lieut Anrude managed to get his men to safety, personally treating and then evacuating his injured Afghan comrade to a waiting helicopter.

He said: “Initially, when the adrenaline was pumping, it was quite exhilarating.

“It was only after I calmed down that my arm started hurting.

“I was too busy concentrating on the incident and getting my lads out alive to give my injury much thought.

“It was only afterwards, on reflection, that I realised how dangerous the situation was and that I was actually quite scared.”