Never-before-seen footage shows Australian soldier’s brush with death
During his time in Afghanistan, former trooper David Nicolson dodged death with the help of a heroic military dog and a brilliant piece of Australian engineering.
He has the rare distinction of surviving no fewer than four Taliban bomb attacks using improvised explosive devices.
During his time in Afghanistan, former trooper David Nicolson dodged death with the help of a heroic military dog and a brilliant piece of Australian engineering. 9News
Death stalked Australian Diggers down every road, as never-before seen bodycam footage shows.
“It’s pretty much blackness now. When I do remember it, I still can’t see it, but I can smell it, which is weird,” he said.
“Three were pressure plate IEDs, and then I had a command wire IED, which was the directional force charged IED, which went into my window.”
A new gallery opens at the Australian War Memorial next week commemorating the service of 40,000 defence personnel, including Nicolson, in Australia’s longest war.
As lead driver in Mentoring Task Force Three in 2011 and 2012, he credits his survival to the Australian-built Bushmaster armoured vehicle’s unique design.
“It’s the V-shaped hull, which is designed to deflect IED blast from the crew,” he said.
As lead driver in Mentoring Task Force Three in 2011 and 2012, he credits his survival to the Australian-built Bushmaster armoured vehicle’s unique design. 9News
The other lifesavers in Australia’s longest war were the explosive-detection dogs, including Sarbi, a black labrador-cross who went missing on deployment only to be reunited with her handler 13 months later.
Nicolson’s faithful army pooch was FloJo.
“She owned Combat Team Alpha,” he said.
“We had so much confidence in her anytime she was with us.”
FloJo found the first IED of his deployment and when not patrolling the road ahead she rode shotgun in the Bushmaster.
FloJo found the first IED of his deployment and when not patrolling the road ahead she rode shotgun in the Bushmaster. 9News
“So the dogs and the Bushmasters are pretty much the reason why we don’t have more names on the roll of honour,” he said, referring to the record of Australian armed forces members who died in wars.
FloJo has been memorialised in ink now on Nicolson’s arm.
“I just wanted something to remember her by. She saved my life, she saved countless lives in Afghanistan,” he said.
And if it wasn’t FloJo or the Bendigo-built Bushmasters saving Nicolson, it was the helmet he wore through all four IED attacks, which is also on display at the memorial.
Now his story is being commemorated at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.
“My story, everyone’s story should be told from Afghanistan in some way, I’m just lucky mine’s here,” he said.
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