Ex-soldier rebuilds life after being shot in Iraq

HE was shot on active service in the Middle East and has had to endure the heartache of watching his mother die of cancer and the stress of losing his job.

But former soldier Jonny Parkinson is now rebuilding his life following “some really dark days” and getting used to being a dad after the birth of his son earlier this year.

The 35-year-old ex-lance corporal from Dundee was serving with the Royal Army Medical Corps in Iraq when he was wounded.

He was shot in the lower right leg — and left facing a series of personal struggles after being medically discharged two years ago following a tour in Afghanistan.

Jonny said: “I sustained a gunshot wound to the lower right leg.

“It’s amazing how one moment in time, and something so small, can have such a massive impact on all aspects of my life.

“I started going downhill mentally and physically after my injury.”

As he was struggling to come to terms with his new life, he was dealt another devastating blow when his mum died following a short battle with lung cancer.

He said: “I had to put my life on hold to act as a carer for my mum.

“At the same time, my partner was pregnant and I lost my job offshore because I couldn’t commit to time away.

“I had some really dark days.”

Eventually, Jonny made contact with the Help for Heroes Career Recovery team at Catterick.

Help for Heroes was founded in 2007 to provide direct, practical support for wounded, injured and sick service personnel, veterans and their loved ones.

The charity provides funds to i ndividuals, as well as money to support service charities.

It also operates a network of recovery centres.

Thanks to guidance from Help for Heroes, Jonny qualified as an ILM Level 3 workplace coach and is now employed again.

He and his partner welcomed their son earlier this year.

Jonny said that the support of the public was vital to the work Help for Heroes does.

He added: “My mum’s birthday was on Christmas Day and I’m going to honour her by making sure she’ll never be forgotten.

“And it’s my son’s first Christmas and time to create happy memories.

“I’d like to say thank you to the British public.

“It’s very humbling to know that in hard economic times, people can still put their hands in their pockets. They make our lives so much better.”

Help for Heroes has launched a website to allow the public to leave Christmas messages for service personnel and veterans like Jonny. The website can be found at h4hchristmas.org/ ourheroes/.

Jonny Parkinson says he “started going downhill mentally and physically” after being injured.