Soldier who lost both legs prepares for 325-mile ride

IT was the moment his life changed forever.

Private Paul Lambert was on patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, when one wrong step literally blew his world apart.

The 29-year-old went to set foot on an ladder, which set off an improvised explosive device (IED).

"I didn't feel any pain whatsoever, it was just the adrenaline pumping through and I felt tingling in my legs," he said.

"The last thing I remember hearing was my sergeant shouting 'grab his legs'. I thought I still had them, but I didn't."

Leith-born Paul today told for the first time of the horror blast, which happened barely ten months ago, as he begins an epic cycle ride in aid of charity Help for Heroes, which has supported him through his injuries.

The former Musselburgh Grammar pupil is among several British and American wounded servicemen joining 200 cyclists on the Arnhem Bike Ride, a 325-mile charity cycle from Brussels to Arnhem in the Netherlands, which got under way yesterday.

The route will culminate in an annual commemoration in Arnhem next Sunday of those who fought and died in 1944's Operation Market Garden.

Paul has come a long way since that day in November last year - just two months into a six-month tour of duty with the Royal Scots Borderers, based at Dreghorn Barracks.

As well as horrific injuries to his lower limbs, he was left with shrapnel wounds to his bladder, liver, right lung and heart, and severe tissue damage to his left arm.

Paul, who also lost a finger on his right hand and damaged his pelvis, said: "I instantly knew what had happened, I was conscious for a good 30 seconds to a minute after the actual blast. I remember lying there thinking 'this is going to hurt pretty soon'."

Paul, who grew up in Musselburgh, was flown back to Birmingham and put in a morphine-induced coma for five days, finally awakening on December 4.

It was several days before he realised that he had lost both his legs in the blast.

He said: "I was confused when I woke up because one minute I was in Afghanistan and it felt like seconds later I was in hospital.

"I was still convinced that I had my combats on and I had my legs. I thought everybody else couldn't see them.

"It was four or five days after I woke up before I realised I didn't have any legs. I could see them in my mind's eye but there was just two stumps there."

Paul spent three months in the hospital, during which he underwent a gruelling 15 operations, including having the remainder of his left leg amputated from the top of his thigh.

He arrived at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre, Headley Court, near Epsom, in February, where he is likely to be treated for 18 months.

Paul hopes to be walking with prosthetic legs within the next six months.

He will complete the cycle using his arms to power his hand-bike and will form part of the Battle Back team alongside Jonpaul Nevin, 29, also from Leith, an exercise rehabilitation instructor at Headley Court.

Paul hopes to return to his former career as a stonemason when he has recovered.

He said: "The army needs guys who are fully fit to go back to Afghanistan."

Paul, who proposed to girlfriend Gillian Spence, 30, on Christmas Day, has raised 5500 for the cycle, 3500 from Jonpaul's father, John Nevin, a painter from East Calder.

Amazingly, Paul views himself as "one of the lucky ones".

"You need to crack on with your life," he said. "I see it as 'I'm still alive and I've still got my girlfriend'."