Brit soldier in Ukraine who had 'leg blown up by mine' vows to return to frontline
01.06.2022 - 17:37
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
A Brit volunteer soldier in Ukraine who suffered 'excruciating pain' after his leg was blown up by a mine has vowed to return to the frontline.
Dean Arthur was with a unit in woodland north of Kharkiv when they came under fire and the remote device was detonated.
The former Grenadier Guardsman was rescued by ex-Royal Marine Ben Grant and taken to hospital, where doctors were thankfully able to save the 42-year-old's leg.
Despite his injuries, determined Dean says he will be back with his unit once he is recovered and has completed his rehabilitation.
Speaking to StokeonTrentLive from his hospital bed, the soldier spoke of his remarkable decision to leave his HGV driving job to go flight alongside Ukrainian forces.
He said: "I heard what was happening on the radio and I realised that they would just be under siege.
"Knowing what the people out here were going through was all the inspiration I needed and I went out."
Dean, from Stoke-on-Trent, first signed up with the Army as an 18-year-old back in 1998 before coming out in 2003. But having followed in the family footsteps of being in the military he was determined to once again go into combat.
He said: "When I heard what was happening out here it all felt like a call to arms. I went through all the proper channels to be here and so I am officially a soldier with the Ukrainian Army - fighting for them.
"The people out here are just amazing and have been so welcoming.
"The people here are the only inspiration I need to go out and fight. Yes, it's scary, but we are soldiers. Men and women are signing up and they need help and I wanted to help.
"You couldn't meet better people than the Ukrainians, they have just been so supportive. I am a soldier, it's in me, and it's what I do.
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