Coulsdon war hero leads soldiers home

3:58pm Monday 28th April 2008

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A Coulsdon soldier who lost his leg in a mine blast in Afghanistan led fellow comrades on a homecoming parade through Windsor.

Lance Corporal Simon Wiggins was injured when he stepped on an explosive device while on patrol near the end of a six-month tour of duty with the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards.

But although Lce Cpl Wiggins, 21, was close to death after his accident and is now wheelchair bound he says he would happily go back to Afghanistan if he was needed.

He took pride of place at the parade on Saturday as he led his 45-strong regiment through the streets in front of thousands of wellwishers flying the British flag to mark the end of their tour.

He said: "It was great to see so many people out to welcome us home - it brought a real lump to the throat."

Lce Cpl Wiggins was pushed through the streets by Lance Corporal James Southall, who saved his life after the explosion by putting on bandages to stem the bleeding.

Reliving the explosion Lce Cpl Wiggins said: "The guy in front of me stepped over an improvised device and I stepped on it. I remember the intense heat as I was lifted up.

"My whole body was thrown into the air and the bang made my ears whistle. I started to crawl into cover as I thought there would be a follow-up attack. That was when the pain hit me. I had injuries to my legs, my arms and my hands. Shrapnel went into my liver and my intestines.

"It was just 32 minutes from the time I was injured to being in a helicopter talking off for the field hospital. I was in pain the whole time, but my mates saved my life that day."

Doctors battled for 12 hours to save his life and he lost 24 pints of blood. He was on a life support machine for 10 days but medics could not save his right leg. He is now planning to get a bionic limb fitted.

After the parade Lce Cpl Wiggins, who is being treated in Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, said: "More politicians should go to Selly Oak and see the consequences of sending soldiers to war. Injured soldiers need more recognition. I think there should be more publicity about what we do so people back home understand."