Most seriously injured soldier to survive Afghan war is to kayak through Arctic ice floes in Greenland for charity

THE most seriously injured soldier to survive the Afghan war zone is set to embark on his toughest challenge yet – kayaking through the ice floes of Greenland.

Heroic Para Ben Parkinson, 32, lost both legs, suffered brain injuries and a broken back, hip and ribs, when his vehicle hit a mine in Helmand in 2006.

Doctors brought him home to die – and when he woke from a three-month coma – said he would never walk or talk again

But he will now paddle across a section of the Arctic, alongside five other injured servicemen, amid icebergs and glacier fronts in the frozen waters around the world’s largest islands.

The tough trek is being staged by military charity Pilgrim Bandits founded by former Special Forces heroes.

And the charities first civilian member, quadruple amputee Alex Lewis, who tragically lost his arms and legs and part of his face after suffering a streptococcal infection that caused blood poisoning and organ failure, is joining Ben on the expedition.

Ben said: “Doing things like this is a way of proving that I am still a man, that I haven’t been broken by what happened.

“Ever since my accident I have remained incredibly positive and never let a bad thought enter my mind, if I did then I wouldn’t be able to do this.

“I know it will be cold, the coldest place I have ever been, but other than that I have no idea what to expect.

“I will take it as it comes, I’m certainly not nervous about what might happen.

“It’s going to be the complete opposite to the conditions I was in while I was serving.

“In those days I was touring Iraq, Afghanistan and Kosovo, now I’m going to Greenland.

“It will be tough but I work out for two hours everyday so I’m confident I’ll be fine.

He added: “I am motivated by all the lads around me, watching them get on with their lives inspires me.

“Alex has got no arms or legs so if he can do it why can’t I?

“Being with the lads is the thing I am most looking forward to, the scenery doesn’t bother me, it’s about the camaraderie.

“It’s going to be so much fun, there will be the sound of laughter from start to finish.

“I would never have had this chance without the Pilgrim Bandits, I have a lot to thank them for.

“Without them I wouldn’t have been able to skydive or any of the other crazy things I have done in the last few years.”

Alex says that the military veterans have welcomed him as the first civilian member with open arms after he became involved last year.

He said: “I do not want this disability to hamper me or stop me living an exciting life.

“I’m going to face new challenges in Greenland, just putting up a tent and and getting around camp will be incredibly taxing.

“There is the possibility that our prosthetics could break or something awful like that.

“Thinking about the trip so much has given me less time to dwell on my illness, which has really helped.

“I do not say no to any challenge now, I am up for anything.

“I have done this not just for me, but for my son, Sam, and fiancee, Lucy, too.

“My little boy was a driving force in all this, I didn’t want him to see me lying at home doing nothing.

“It’s vitally important for me is that I show my five-year-old son that I can do anything.

“This is all part of my rehabilitation, both mentally and physically.

“Prior to my illness the most active I would have been was playing golf, now I’m trekking Greenland.

“The Pilgrim Bandits are giving me the opportunity to experience the wild things in life.

“The lads have completely accepted me, maybe because I’ve got less limbs than all of them.

“We help get each other through, the key to our happiness is accepting what we have gone through.

“It’s been an amazing experience so far and hopefully it will end in that spirit as well.

Mike Witt, CEO of Pilgrim Bandits, said: “They’re a great bunch of lads.

“To them it makes no difference whether or not they’re injured, they’re going to go out and enjoy life.

“It will be a huge challenge for them be in freezing conditions, it is likely to effect their skin tissue and their prosthetics.

“Giving people the opportunity to do things they ordinarily be deprived of is what motivates me.”

Tyler Christopher a former Lance Corporal in the Army said: “The camaraderie among the boys is unbelievable.

“We will carry each other through when things get tough.

“It’s an immense challenge to take on but we are a very strong group.”

Accompanying Ben, Alex, Mike and Tyler will be Cpl Hari Magar, Cpl Vince Manley, Adam Cyr (Canadian Special Forces) Stuart Holcroft, ex Royal Artillery, Steven Allen, and L/Cpl Tyler Christopher.

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