News Article

BBC documentary given unprecedented access to rehabilitation of injured soldiers

A People In Defence news article

18 Sep 09

A new BBC documentary, 'Wounded', follows two soldiers injured on operations in Afghanistan from the moment they landed at Birmingham, and through their treatment and rehabilitation at Selly Oak and Headley Court.

Lance Corporal Tom Neathway

Lance Corporal Tom Neathway
[Picture: Courtesy of the BBC]

With much public interest in the medical care given to injured troops, the unique documentary shows what happens to British soldiers who are VSI (classified as 'very seriously injured') in Afghanistan.

In 2008, the Defence Secretary approved a BBC bid to allow a two-person film crew unprecedented access to follow the experiences of two very seriously injured Service personnel, from being flown back to the UK, through their treatment at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital and the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.

19-year-old Ranger Andy Allen was flown to Selly Oak, which handles all serious battlefield casualties, in a critical condition after being caught in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast.

Losing his right leg instantly, he sustained severe burns to his face and eyes. Once back in the UK, the hospital's joint military and NHS medical teams battled to save his life.

24-year-old Paratrooper, Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, remained fully conscious after an IED exploded when he moved a booby-trapped sandbag. He lost both his legs, and his left arm was damaged so badly that it had to be amputated.

But surviving their injuries was just the beginning as Ranger Allen and Lance Corporal Neathway then faced months of rehabilitation at Headley Court where they started to rebuild their lives and make plans for the future.

Lance Corporal Neathway's aim was to learn how to walk on his artificial legs in time to attend the medal ceremony at his regiment's homecoming parade. Explaining what he hoped to achieve by allowing his story to be told he said:

"I wanted to put the message across that there are soldiers returning from theatres of war injured, but after receiving medical treatment and undergoing periods of rehabilitation they are able to return to and enjoy life."

And on the finished documentary he said:

"I was very pleased with the film because it shows what really happened to both Andy and I as we struggled with our individual recoveries. It lets people see exactly how it was."

'Wounded' is on BBC One from 2100 to 2200hrs BST and from 2235 to 2315hrs BST on Wednesday 23 September 2009.





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