On 19th September 2005 I sustained life-changing injuries.
When I was 18 years I was deployed to Basra, to support an operation to rescue two British Special Forces soldiers who were captured in a Basra police station. As the rescue mission progressed in the day, a full-scale riot broke out. The rioters were in control, and we were unable to retreat. The Warrior’s viewing sights were shattered by petrol bombs, grenades, bricks, and shrapnel, at one point they were on top of the Warrior dousing it in petrol. As we couldn’t view properly, we were forced to open our hatch to see outside the tank – right at the moment a petrol bomb was thrown. It got inside the turret – drenching me in burning petrol and instantly filling the Warrior with fire. It was like being underwater but in fire.
I was overwhelmed with panic. It took me about 20 seconds to realise I need to get out of the tank to survive. That’s the reason why my hands are so badly damaged – because of gripping onto the Warrior to pull myself out. Luckily my mates were there and hulled me back for safety. I was taken by helicopter back to my field hospital where I remember being taken into an operating theatre and then just seeing a needle, feeling anesthetic running through my body, and passing out.