Power of fishing
Thirty years on from his horrific accident, Gulf War casualty Amar Kanim rediscovers angling
FOR a short while back in the early 1990s, the name Amar Kanim was familiar to anyone who followed the news.
With the Gulf War at its height, the young Iraqi boy was caught up in an attack ordered by the president of his country, Saddam Hussein. His horrific facial injuries made the front pages across the world, a symbol of the suffering of the Iraqi people at the hands of their own leader.
Nearly 30 years on, after specialist surgery and settling in England thanks in part to a media campaign by MP Emma Nicholson, one of Amar’s greatest passions is fishing.
But in a cruel twist of fate, recent hardships had forced Amar, now aged 40, to sell his beloved fishing tackle. Which is where the Angling Trust and leading tackle shop giant Fishing Megastore come in.
Fishing Megastore provided a complete fishing kit to restart his
hobby, while the Angling Trust sent angling writer and coach Dom Garnett to deliver the gear, also providing a new Environment Agency rod licence, a fishing ticket and a full day’s tuition.
“I had to sell my fishing tackle when my money ran out, so I’m so very happy with the new gear – this will keep me going for years!” said a delighted Amar.
“I missed my fishing a lot. It’s so peaceful. It gets me outdoors, out of my flat, and stops me from worrying about things.
“I grew up running free in Iraq, I was a real wild child. I was always exploring – finding snakes and all sorts! I always loved being out and about, so that’s maybe why fishing connects me to being a kid.”
Dom took him to Anglers Eldorado Lakes in Devon to try out the new kit, which was christened with five carp to double figures.
“I’m so pleased to help Amar get back into fishing,” said Dom. “It’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my angling career.
“We had a brilliant day out and gave the new gear a thorough trial. He really made up for lost time, too, with some excellent fish both floatfishing and on carp tactics.
“You can tell how much he enjoys fishing – and the smile on his face was priceless. I’m proud to represent the Angling Trust with such a lovely gesture of support.
“I must say we were also blown away by the kindness of Fishing Megastore, who not only donated the gear but went the extra mile to put together a really well thoughtout selection of tackle that was perfect for Amar’s needs.”