Andy Reid to climb Mount Snowdon

Former corporal Andy Reid to take on incredible feat in aid of charity, five years after stepping on IED

Liverpool Echo

A war hero who lost both legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan climbed Mount Snowdon on the fifth anniversary of suffering his devastating injuries.

Former corporal Andy Reid, 37, born in Birkenhead and brought up in St Helens, survived an horrific explosion after stepping on a bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan in 2009.

Today he and his former colleague, Stewart Harris, who was also left injured in Afghanistan, successful reached the summit of Snowdon.

They were raising funds for The Not Forgotten Association - a charity which aims to support injured serving and ex-servicemen and women with disabilties.

And the pair reached their £1,000 target on their Justgiving page while taking part in the gruelling challenge.

In a tweet following the climb this afternoon, Mr Reid said: "Well that's it done, was very hard work my back is killing, would not have done it without Stewart Harris."

The dad, who served with 3rd Battalion The Yorkshire Regiment, battled back to health after being left on the brink of death. He is now a published author, campaign veteran and motivational speaker.

Andy went out to Afghanistan in 2009, a section commander at the peak of his military career, just eight months after meeting Claire, who was to become his wife.

He had been there for three months and had only 10 days left when the incident happened on October 13.

After stepping on an IED, Andy was airlifted back to the UK and transferred to the specialist military wing of Selly Oak Hospital.

His injuries were such that Andy lost both legs, one above the knee, his right arm and the index finger on his left hand.

At first, when he struggled to do even the most simple tasks for himself, Andy did "get down": "I began to wish the Taliban bomber had been better at his job and finished me off completely. I felt useless and unwanted."

But he soon turned a corner. Andy began to get better and, after enduring operations and setbacks, was fitted with a prosthetic arm and legs: "I knew I had to be positive and I was glad it had happened to me, not one of those under my control."

"Now my unit is back in Afghanistan and I want to show them that if you do get injured it's not the end, that you can go on and live a full life. If I give up, what hope would it give them?"

Donate to Andy's cause a http://www.justgiving.com/snowdon5years/ .