'Hero' tag embarrasses solider

Supplied

MODEST HERO: Rifleman James McKie bleeding from injuries caused by throwing back the grenade. His wounds are not serious and he is eager to return to action.

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New Zealand soldier James McKie says he's "embarrassed" by being described as a hero after saving his commanding officer from a hand grenade attack in Afghanistan.

The 29-year-old British Army rifleman picked up the grenade after it landed next to Captain Graeme Kerr and hurled it away seconds before it exploded, while fighting Taliban insurgents in the Helmand province.

Rifleman McKie suffered shrapnel injuries to his face and right arm as the grenade exploded in mid-air and Capt Kerr was evacuated to a Birmingham hospital with leg wounds.

The Tawa College old boy said today he and his captain were on top of a small roof fighting a battle against insurgents when the grenade landed between them.

"I didn't really have a lot of time to think," he told National Radio.

"The grenade was right there. Capt Kerr, who was immediately to my right...did his best to try to get out of the way of it, but it was a very small roof.

"There wasn't a lot of room for either of us to move."

The roof was too high to jump off, he said.

"I didn't have any other option really. I could have done nothing and got hurt, so I thought I'd do something and at least try to get it off the roof."

Rifleman McKie denied his actions were heroic.

"I feel somewhat embarrassed by that term. I don't like people calling me that.

"I just want to get back out there with my platoon, especially as I've only got three weeks to go."

Since serving in Afghanistan, four of Rifleman McKie's 23 colleagues have been killed and he was the eighth to be wounded.

His father Andrew yesterday said he hoped his son could stay safe during his last few weeks in the country.

"I just hope he keeps his head down for the next three weeks, because that's how long he's got to go in Afghanistan," Mr McKie said.

He was apprehensive about his son fighting in "an extremely dangerous place".

"You don't get immune to it and always worry."

Mr McKie said his son performed a "brilliant and courageous act" when he picked up the live grenade and threw it back at the enemy.

It was not until Tuesday that the family found out details of his heroism.

Mr McKie said he was looking forward to seeing his son again.

"I'm obviously extremely proud, and hopefully when he gets back to New Zealand in May on holiday we'll have a good catch-up."

Capt Kerr said Rifleman McKie would have only had three seconds when the grenade landed and half a second to make a decision, and another three seconds to throw it.

"That's pretty heroic in my book," he said.

Rifleman McKie joined the New Zealand Army straight after leaving Tawa College, and served as a medic for seven years before moving on to pursue a career in the British Army in 2006.

- NZPA