Sergeant Simon Harmer loses legs in bomb blast in Helmand Province (From Daily Echo)

Sergeant Simon Harmer loses legs in bomb blast in Helmand Province

4:29pm Thursday 19th November 2009 in

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A HAMPSHIRE Army medic who married just three months ago has lost both his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Simon Harmer suffered life-threatening injuries when an improvised bomb went off while he was on foot patrol in Helmand Province.

The 33-year-old from Kings Worthy, near Winchester, was on the critical list when he arrived at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

But within a week Sgt Harmer - who only tied the knot with Marisa at his local church in August - gave the thumbs-up to friends.

He has endured several operations following his double amputation and is due to be moved to a specialist rehabilitation centre in Surrey next month.

Sgt Harmer, a veteran of conflicts in Bosnia and Iraq, was working as a combat medical technician with the Royal Army Medical Corps when he suffered the injuries. He had left in September for a six-month tour of Afghanistan with 33 Field Hospital.

Sgt Harmer was transferred to a hospital at Camp Bastion - where many of his colleagues are based - before being flown back to Britain.

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