04 May 2011
A Gunner who lost both his legs in an Afghan bomb blast is launching an 800-mile charity ride to support his Forces comrades injured in action.
Battling Sgt Duncan Slater suffered horrific injuries when his Jackal patrol vehicle triggered an IED during a reconnaissance operation in the Babaji area in Helmand Province in 2009.
The bomb destroyed the left-hand side of the Jackal and blasted him 30ft from the vehicle, shattering both his legs and causing serious spinal injuries. Amazingly the three
A Gunner who lost both his legs in an Afghan bomb blast is launching an 800-mile charity ride to support his Forces comrades injured in action.
Battling Sgt Duncan Slater suffered horrific injuries when his Jackal patrol vehicle triggered an IED during a reconnaissance operation in the Babaji area in Helmand Province in 2009.
The bomb destroyed the left-hand side of the Jackal and blasted him 30ft from the vehicle, shattering both his legs and causing serious spinal injuries. Amazingly the three
Afghan hero battles back
800-mile ride for Gunner who lost legs
other members of the RAF team escaped with minor injuries.
Now he is set to undertake a gruelling nationwide ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End to support other injured Servicemen and women.
He said: “I’ve always been fit and after what I have been through I wanted to do something to support other people who have been injured in the line of duty. I can’t walk or run that far, but I can ride.”
Duncan was evacuated from the blast scene to Camp Bastion hospital for emergency surgery before being flown back to the UK.
“I took the full force of the explosion,” he said.“I remember everything about it. It was a nondescript route that was not regarded as being high risk. We were following a US bomb disposal team who had cleared the route just half an hour before we drove through. “Then we went over a command wire and that was it. “I got the upshot of the blast, which blew me out of the vehicle.
“When I came round I was still strapped to my seat, but I was about 30ft away. The guys couldn’t find me at first.”
After months of treatment and 14 separate operations he was finally told that there was nothing medics could do to save his legs and he underwent a double amputation in 2010. He said: “They had hoped that they could save my legs but they never got any better. In fact, they got worse. “A year after the incident I was finally told that there was nothing they could do.”
While undergoing treatment at Headley Court, Sgt Slater met ex-Royal Marine physio Nick Wilson - who inspired the fundraising effort. He said: “Nick was very positive. He came up with the idea and asked me if I fancied doing it. Being in a wheelchair was demoralising - I did not know what I would be capable of but I can ride well on my artificial legs.”
The two fundraisers hit the road this week and are hoping to cover 80 miles a day.
Proceeds from the charity ride will be donated to Help for Heroes and the RAFBF. To support Duncan and Nick go to
www.bmycharity.com/dslaterandnickwilson2011 <http://www.bmycharity.com/dslaterandnickwilson2011>, or www.justgiving.com/Duncan-Slater <http://www.justgiving.com/Duncan-Slater>
Now he is set to undertake a gruelling nationwide ride from John O’Groats to Land’s End to support other injured Servicemen and women.
He said: “I’ve always been fit and after what I have been through I wanted to do something to support other people who have been injured in the line of duty. I can’t walk or run that far, but I can ride.”
Duncan was evacuated from the blast scene to Camp Bastion hospital for emergency surgery before being flown back to the UK.
“I took the full force of the explosion,” he said.“I remember everything about it. It was a nondescript route that was not regarded as being high risk. We were following a US bomb disposal team who had cleared the route just half an hour before we drove through. “Then we went over a command wire and that was it. “I got the upshot of the blast, which blew me out of the vehicle.
“When I came round I was still strapped to my seat, but I was about 30ft away. The guys couldn’t find me at first.”
After months of treatment and 14 separate operations he was finally told that there was nothing medics could do to save his legs and he underwent a double amputation in 2010. He said: “They had hoped that they could save my legs but they never got any better. In fact, they got worse. “A year after the incident I was finally told that there was nothing they could do.”
While undergoing treatment at Headley Court, Sgt Slater met ex-Royal Marine physio Nick Wilson - who inspired the fundraising effort. He said: “Nick was very positive. He came up with the idea and asked me if I fancied doing it. Being in a wheelchair was demoralising - I did not know what I would be capable of but I can ride well on my artificial legs.”
The two fundraisers hit the road this week and are hoping to cover 80 miles a day.
Proceeds from the charity ride will be donated to Help for Heroes and the RAFBF. To support Duncan and Nick go to
www.bmycharity.com/dslaterandnickwilson2011 <http://www.bmycharity.com/dslaterandnickwilson2011>, or www.justgiving.com/Duncan-Slater <http://www.justgiving.com/Duncan-Slater>