Saved by my right arm and love for my wife and child
IN July 2009, while on patrol in Helmand Province, Sgt Duncan Slater’s vehicle drove over an Improvised Explosive Device planted by the Taliban.
In the resulting explosion that hurled him through the air, the only part of his body left unbroken was the right arm that saved him.
He recalls: ‘I was badly hurt and thrown out of the vehicle, so the other guys in the convoy had to find me. In that time I had put a tourniquet on my left arm as it was bleeding and I knew I risked bleeding out and losing consciousness.
‘I also gave myself morphine and tried to check my other injuries. I realised I couldn’t move my legs and I could barely breathe as my lungs had been battered, so I was worried I wouldn’t make it out of there.
‘I was definitely panicking but survival instinct kicked in. I remember I was determined to make it back to my wife, Kim, who was five months pregnant at the time. I couldn’t shout for help because of the concussion from the blast but they found me about ten minutes later.
‘Thankfully I was still awake and could tell them to be careful moving me in case my spine was broken – which it was.
‘I was flown back to the UK that same day and went straight into intensive care. As soon as I saw Kim’s face I knew it would be all right and I would fight to get well for our unborn child.’