New Zealander Curtis McGrath (24) was one of four soldiers serving in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) who were wounded when an improvised explosive device detonated during coalition-supported Afghan National Security Force operations in Uruzgan Province a week ago.
Mr McGrath enrolled in Wakatipu High School in Queenstown in year 10 when it was believed his family moved to Frankton from Alexandra. He studied there until the end of year 13 in 2005.
Mr McGrath later moved to Australia and it is understood his family have also relocated across the Tasman.
Acting principal Paul O'Connor said yesterday he spoke with three or four of Mr McGrath's former teachers who all fondly remembered their past pupil.
"He was a very fine young man, keen on the outdoors and considered a career in the military," Mr O'Connor said.
"He won a Bruce Grant Memorial Trust award in his final year and that fits in with his interest in the outdoors.
"He was highly regarded by staff and peers as a good all-round human being."
The positive word on the combat engineer's condition filtered to one of his former teachers yesterday who would remain in contact with the family, Mr O'Connor said, when asked if the school planned to send messages of support to Mr McGrath.
It was understood he had been medically evacuated by air to Tarin Kot role 2 medical facility, then transferred to the role 3 medical facility at Kandahar for further specialist treatment, before his arrival at Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre in Germany.
The McGrath family travelled from their home on the Gold Coast to his bedside.
Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Task Group, Lieutenant-colonel Trent Scott said in an ADF statement the soldiers had been working alongside their Afghan partners at the time of the explosion.
"This is essential work as we transition to the Afghan security forces' taking the lead on operations in the future."
The ADF declined to release further details on Mr McGrath's condition yesterday as it was not its policy to release details of any soldiers wounded in action, or give details of injuries.
