Pte. Robert Costall


Costall, 22, of the First Battalion of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Edmonton, died early Wednesday in a firefight with the Taliban insurgents.

An American soldier was also killed in the battle, which took place in Helmand Province, about 110 kilometres north of Kandahar.

At least eight Afghan National Army soldiers were also reported to have died.

Costall was born in Thunder Bay, Ont. His wife Chrissy and their one-year-old son Colin survive him. Chrissy and Colin live in Namao, north of Edmonton.

Costall is the 12th Canadian to die in Afghanistan since 2002 -- 11 soldiers and one Canadian diplomat, Glyn Berry. However, he is the first to die in actual combat.