'A mortar bomb hit us and I saw a bit of my arm hanging off'

Corporal David Aitchison, from Edinburgh, had rehearsed every moment of the mission in his mind. He knew the lives of seven hostages were at risk. His task was to engage the rebels in combat while his comrades from the Parachute Regiment took the hostages to safety.

He had arrived in Sierra Leone three weeks earlier, and this was one of his most dangerous missions yet. They had planned it in minute detail, before surprising the rebels under cover of darkness. But although the rescue was successful, it came at a high personal price.

He was hit by a mortar bomb, tearing apart his arm and peppering his body with hundreds of pieces of shrapnel. It meant the end of his 11-year career and the start of a long road to recovery.

Nine years later, Mr Aitchison, 41, has rebuilt his life, settling in Baberton Mains and re-training as a taxi driver. He is now happily married with a two-year-old daughter. But he still thinks about his army life every day, and is passionate about supporting other ex-servicemen and women.

He has now challenged himself to get fit again for the Bupa 10km run on Sunday, 2 May, to raise hundreds of pounds for the Erskine charity. He has also helped make a documentary about his experiences, and the work of the Special Forces, for Channel Five.

Mr Aitchison was first posted to Sierra Leone in 2000 to help British ex-pats leave the increasingly unstable country. Much of it had been taken over by rebels, who were plotting to overthrow the government.

A few months later, the rebels kidnapped seven soldiers from the Royal Irish Regiment. As negotiations stalled, a Special Forces team was sent in by helicopter to rescue them in September 2000.

Mr Aitchison was one of more than 100 soldiers involved in the mission, deep in the jungle. They prepared by building a detailed model of the village where the hostages were held. Then they entered by helicopter at 5am.

He said: "First, two helicopters opened fire on the village. Then we landed, and we had to get the rebels to take us on. Another team went round to grab the hostages and get them out by helicopter.

"We were going head-to-head with them, and they were firing back at us. They were only about 20 yards away. Then we were hit by a mortar bomb.

"We felt a big thud and saw a lot of smoke. The ground shook. I was still fully conscious, but when I looked at my arm I saw a bit hanging off. There was a lot of blood. Some of my colleagues were also lying on the ground.

"I lost a lot of flesh from my arm, and mobility in my left hand. There was a lot of nerve damage, and shrapnel in the back of my body."

His comrades quickly gave him morphine and bundled him into a helicopter. He was rushed to a military hospital ship, just off the West African coast. They gave him emergency treatment to save his life, before flying him back to the UK within 24 hours.

After that, Mr Aitchison spent three-and-a-half months in hospital. He was unlucky enough to catch MRSA, extending his stay. He then underwent 18 months of rehabilitation, before being medically discharged from the army in 2001.

He still only has limited movement in his left arm, and has several hundred pieces of shrapnel in his body.

He said: "The hardest part was not being able to go back to doing my job. The other lads were going away, and I was stuck in the UK, trying to get fit again. They offered me a desk job, but I didn't want it – it wasn't why I'd joined the army."

The former Tynecastle High pupil said it had been his childhood dream to follow in the footsteps of his father, who was also a soldier. He joined up when he was 22 and served in Northern Ireland and Kosovo.

But he knew he had to make a fresh start, and refused to let his injuries hold him back. He now enjoys his job as a taxi driver, as well as spending time with his wife Leigh and daughter Keira.

He decided to team up with friends and fellow Hearts season ticket holders John Cole, Colin Robertson and Laurence Mutch for the race in May. Mr Cole's brother is also a former soldier, who fought in the first Gulf War.

Mr Aitchison said: "I was really keen to support Erskine. They do a wonderful job, and their services are more in demand than ever.

"I think training will be a challenge. I used to be really fit and could do this in my sleep, but I'll have to get back into shape."

An army spokesman said they were pleased to hear of his fundraising efforts. "We fully support David Aitchison in his endeavour to raise money for Erskine," he said.

Erskine is one of the leading charities providing nursing and medical care for former members of the armed forces. Anyone wishing to support Mr Aitchison and his teammates can e-mail [email protected].

A NATION PLAGUED BY INSTABILITY

SIERRA Leone, in West Africa, is a former British colony and a country with a long and troubled history of conflict.

It was the departure point for thousands of west African captives in the transatlantic slave trade, and the capital, Freetown, was founded as a home for repatriated former slaves in 1787.

The country is rich in diamonds, and the trade in illicit gems, known as "blood diamonds", has perpetuated internal conflict.

Sierra Leone emerged from a decade of civil war in 2002, with the help of Britain and a large UN peacekeeping mission. More than 17,000 foreign troops disarmed tens of thousands of rebels and militia fighters. Several years on, the country still faces the challenge of reconstruction.

Despite substantial economic growth in recent years poverty and unemployment remain major challenges.

In June 2009, the UN said that despite some impressive gains in rebuilding since the end of the civil war, efforts to consolidate peace and prosperity in the country remained fragile.

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