Newly-wed sergeant injured in Afghanistan (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Newly-wed sergeant injured in Afghanistan

4:46pm Thursday 19th November 2009 in

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A WINCHESTER army sergeant who only married three months ago has lost both his legs in an explosion in Afghanistan.

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 medic from Kings Worthy was on the critical list when he arrived at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

But within a week the sergeant – 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 (December).

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.