SARAH'S LEAVE SHORTENED TO JUST ONE DAY

Sarah's father Michael said he and his wife Diane are waiting by the phone for news from their eldest daughter after she flew back to the war-torn region on January 15.

The combat medical technician with 11 Brigade, who was posted to Afghanistan in November last year after completing her army training at Aldershot, was due to have two weeks leave last month but treacherous weather conditions at English airports meant she and her comrades were stranded in Cyprus for most of their time off.

Sarah's distraught parents were prepared not to see her at all but then out of the blue they received a brief phonecall from their beloved daughter to say she had landed in England and could come home for 24 hours.

Michael, an ex-soldier himself, told the Leader, "We were beyond disappointed when Sarah said she couldn't get home. Christmas was bad enough without her but we kept thinking it would be ok when we saw her in January for those two weeks.

"Then she called me and said 'Dad, book me a flight for the morning, I'm coming home for a day'.

"We were over the moon and were so pleased to see her after all this time but we had so much planned for the two weeks she was supposed to be home.

"In the end we were just happy to be together in the house."

Michael said Sarah, who should be due to finish her tour of duty in May, spent the time she was home playing with her sisters and brother and went shopping with her mum.

"She just wanted to stay close to us the whole day and we sat and talked in the house," he said.

"We didn't talk about Afghanistan - we just did what Sarah wanted to do for the day."

After a devastatingly short time at home the former Banbridge High School pupil flew back to Afghanistan more than two weeks ago. Since then her concerned parents have been glued to news stations and sat waiting by the phone for news.

Michael said, "We don't even know where she is at the minute and we just can't settle until we do."

Sarah's sudden departure dealt the family another blow - they had no contact with her on her nineteenth birthday. Her father said this year is the first when they haven't been able to wish her a happy birthday.

He said, "We have heard nothing since she left last month. On her birthday last week we left messages on her facebook but couldn't even send her a card or hear her voice on the phone."

Since her time in Afghanistan Sarah has been faced with almost daily attacks from the Taliban at her camp in southern Sangin Valley, and suffered a leg injury in December.

The teenage soldier, who is part of the Ambulance Regiment, is responsible for administering first aid to injured soldiers, many of whom are close friends, before they reach the nearest hospital 150 miles away.

Michael said, "She has lost a number of friends and comrades since November and that has really upset her.

"It is really tough going out there for them. We just can't wait to hear from her and know where she is and that she is alright."