VALOUR OF THE GENTLE GIANT BLOWN UP BY THE TALIBAN

Lance Bombardier Parkinson of the 7th Parachute Regiment, Royal Horse artillery paid a terrible price for serving his country. He lost both his legs and sustained grievous damage to his spine, skull and pelvis when blown up by the Taliban in 2006. His lungs and spleen were punctured, all his ribs were cracked and he suffered serious brain damage. Ben, pictured left before the blast, was flown back to the UK where he was expected to die. Incredibly, he clung to life. He was initially awarded just £152,000 by the MoD, under its statutory compensation scheme for service personnel injured in combat. after a campaign, that was increased to £570,000, which his family used to buy a bungalow for him and fit it out with specialist equipment.