Lance Corporal Rory McKenzie was on patrol in Basra in January 2007 when his Warrior armoured vehicle was badly damaged by an Improvised Explosive Device. The blast caused serious injuries to LCpl McKenzie which caused him to lose his right leg. Sadly the huge explosion also killed LCpl McKenzie's colleague, Private Michael Tench.
An emergency medical team was despatched to the scene to evacuate LCpl McKenzie and the other injured soldiers. Initially LCpl McKenzie was unable to see what was going on around him although he was aware of his colleagues moving him to safety and on to a Merlin helicopter to be evacuated to the hospital.
During the short flight back to the Field Hospital at the Contingency Operating Base near Basra Airport he regained his sight and the first person he saw was an attractive blonde Medical Assistant who was holding his hand. Despite the seriousness of his injuries, Rory survived and after a period of rehabilitation and the fitting of a prosthetic limb, returned to duty earlier this month.
Since sustaining his injury LCpl McKenzie has dedicated much of his spare time to raising large sums of money for Service charities. By chance while talking to a colleague about a new charity he was planning to get involved with, he mentioned the incident in Basra, describing to his colleague the blonde nurse that held his hand.
Unbeknown to him he was actually talking to the husband of the blonde nurse, Corporal Hazel Smart, a Medical Assistant in the RAF now serving at RAF Halton near Aylesbury. LCpl McKenzie soon found out that Hazel was being presented with her Iraq Campaign medal and so he asked RAF Halton if it was possible to present the medal to her.
"I will never forget that vision of Hazel being there for me when I was afraid and not knowing if I was going to survive as I was bleeding quite badly."
Lance Corporal Rory McKenzie
Their initial meeting was one of emotion and happiness and at the medal ceremony LCpl McKenzie proudly pinned the medal onto Cpl Smart's uniform with a sense of pride and gratitude for the part she played helping to save his life:
"I will never forget that vision of Hazel being there for me when I was afraid and not knowing if I was going to survive as I was bleeding quite badly," LCpl McKenzie explained after the emotional reunion. "Holding her hand gave me the confidence to relax more, knowing that I was in the safe hands of the medical team onboard the helicopter.
"I would not be here but for the dedication of the medical team attending the incident and the speed that I was transferred to the hospital. I will always remember Hazel, the lady that gave me the confidence and comfort I needed in a time of much need."
Hazel added:
"Our team of medical professionals worked in some extreme conditions and it is rare for us to meet up with those we extracted during what was a very busy and dangerous period. To meet Rory today has been very special for me and to know that someone as seriously injured as him has survived and does a great deal for the Services with his charity work is one that I will remember forever."