Brave soldier determined to fight again

Brave soldier Gregg

An East Lancashire soldier has vowed to return to the front line despite having lost both his legs after stepping on explosives in Afghanistan.

Brave Gregg Stevenson, 24, is determined he will return to the front line once fitted with a pair of prosthetic legs.

Soldier Gregg, from Pendle, who worked for two years for an Accrington charity, is also thankful his injuries were not worse – and believes his vital organs were project by his tall 6ft4in frame.

He has been hailed a hero by a mayor and Royal British Legion officials who said it reminded everyone of the sacrifices soldiers made.

Gregg, a green beret army commando with an elite regiment, was in Helmand Province on foot patrol looking for mines and explosives on the front line.

For security reasons Gregg cannot go into detail about what happened, but on Friday, March 6 he stood on a Taliban improvised explosive device.

Both his legs were blown off below the knee caps and he also lost the top of his left index finger.

He said: “I was lucky that I was so tall. Because I was 6ft 4 the explosive missed my vital organs.

“It wasn’t really a shock that it had happened. My job was to look for mines and explosives on the front line so I knew the dangers involved.

"I’m staying positive and just trying to get back on with my life as normal.

“My family were upset and saddened when they were told what had happened but they knew I wasn’t over in Afghanistan doing a desk job.

“I’m not going to let this stop me.”

It was Gregg’s first tour duty in Afghanistan during his three years in the army.

He is a commando with the 24 Engineer Regiment, an elite Devon-based batallion that supports the Royal Marines.

Gregg, a former Colne Park High School pupil, was just two weeks from the end of a six-month stint.

He said he owed his life to his comrades who took carried from the front line to be treated by army medics at the Camp Bastion hosptial.

Gregg was flown back to England two days after the blast to be treated at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, which is the country’s main treatment centre for injured soldiers. He was discharged last Friday and has spent this week at home in Foulridge.

He is due to start treatment at Headly Court rehabilitation Centre in Surrey on Monday, where he will undergo physiotherapy in order to have prosthetic legs fitted.

The army has provided Gregg with an electronic bed and a wheelchair in the meantime.

He said: “The first few weeks were really intensive. I can’t really remember much because I was having a lot of operations and knocked out for most of it.

“It is really hard but joining the army is the best thing I have ever done. There is so much camaraderie. We have a real laugh.”

“It’s pretty scary when you first go on the front line but after a while you just get used to it, just like any other job.

“My unit are going back over there in 12 months and I’m hoping to go back with them. It’s my job and I want to carry on with it.

“The army has said that I have a job open for me so my aim is to try and get back within 12 to 18 months, when I have made a full recovery.

“My job is based on the front line and I really hope to be able to get back there if I can.”

Coun Shelagh Derwent, mayor of Pendle, paid tribute to Gregg’s bravery.

She said: “I am sure the whole of the borough is proud of him and I hope we can help him.

"I think people don't realise how much credit we should give to these people. They are very noble and brave.

"We have to be grateful there are people out there willing to do the job and I wish him all the best.

"I just hope he's going to be looked after.”

Bryan Thompson, of the East Lancashire Royal British Legion, said: "Words can't describe what these young men have to go through.

"It really is dreadful. Now he needs to be with people who are familiar with the difficulties he's facing."

Gregg said he wanted to thank staff at Selly Oak Hospital and all his family and friends for their ‘awesome’ support.

Gregg’s brother Neil, 27, said: “Gregg has been really positive about everything. We have been out and about a lot since he has been back. This won’t slow him down.”

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