Injured reporter doing well

Reporter Paul Raffaele, who was injured in Afghanistan a fortnight ago, has returned to Australia and is recuperating from shrapnel wounds to his head and arm.

In a brief note to me, he said yesterday he arrived in Sydney four days ago after spending time in hospital at Bagram Air Force Base and later in Dubai. Raffaele was injured when a suicide bomber targeted the group he was in while he visited an anti-opium operation in northern Afghanistan. He said his hearing was damaged by the blast and three bomb fragments entered his skull, affecting his vision. He said he has lost much of his peripheral vision in his left eye, which has affected his ability to type and read, and he finds he tires easily. A neurosugeon who has examined him since his return said his prospects of recovery are promising as the brain has a great capacity to heal but the process could take a number of months. Raffaele said the recent article here, and the numerous readers' comments had been very moving. He sent his thanks to all the well-wishers.