Rifleman
Craig Wood
I went to Afghanistan in April 2009 with 2 Platoon, A Company, The Rifles. My injury happened in my third month there, in July. We were out on a foot patrol and an IED struck me. I remember a white flash, but no sound at all. I remember feeling that I got hit and I heard my friends screaming my name. Then I blacked out. I remember having a lot of weird, crazy dreams after that. I woke up back in the UK, in August, with my mum, dad, brother and girlfriend at the time there.
It was probably a good two to three months before what had happened to me really started to sink in. I had one bad day when I was just looking around in hospital thinking, “Ah right, well, they’ve all got legs and everything.” I had a little cry about that, but then I just got over it really. Things improved when I moved down to Headley Court after three months in hospital, on 18th October. Headley’s great because everyone’s learning how to adapt to their injuries. The banter’s good, it’s just like being back in the Army properly. You learn how to adapt to daily living again. The thing I find hardest nowadays is stairs without hand rails – aeroplanes are a bit of a nightmare, but I just try and get on with everything.
I’m not too sure about what my future plans are. I just want to get on with the present. Before I was injured, I was a windsurfer and I sailed as well, it was quite a big part of my life. I’ve started getting into Paralympics sailing, but I’ve just got to see how it pans out. I do think my injuries have changed me as a person. I really do appreciate life now. I see some people who say, “I wouldn’t be able to live like that.” But how do you know unless you’ve tried it? I’ve been so close to death that I really appreciate life, family, friends. So yeah, I think that what happened changed me but in a better way. I think I’m a better person for it, definitely.