British Hero of Helmand: Paratrooper’s final hours made into big screen film

Kajaki covers the final hours in the life of paratrooper Cpl Mark Wright in the Afghan area of the film’s title.


Bravery award: Cpl Mark Wright was killed trying
to rescue soldiers from a minefield in Afghanistan

The 27-year-old was leading an attempt to rescue a three-man patrol injured by Soviet-era landmines when he was fatally wounded by a blast.

Cpl Wright, who was praised for raising his colleagues’ morale, was not airlifted from the scene until four hours after the explosion. Six other troops were hurt, including three who lost limbs, in the tragedy.

A coroner later blamed a series of failings, including a shortage of equipment, for Cpl Wright’s death.
The soldier was posthumously awarded the George Cross for his actions on September 6, 2006.
Movie director Paul Katis said: ‘We want the people in the audience to feel they’re right there with the guys on the ground. The UK’s made lots of films about World War II but we simply don’t have a modern British movie about recent conflicts.’

Producers Pukka Films have a £1million budget and are halfway towards raising £40,000 of that from public donations.

They hope to start filming in May. Cpl Wright’s father Bob, from Edinburgh, said: ‘People often don’t realise just what these soldiers are doing out there and the conditions, such as living in ditches.’



Link to the movie
http://www.kajakimovie.com/