‘I heard a click and thought I was dead’ – soldiers who lost legs reunite

The Royal British Legion helped him move to a new home in Cumbria, making adaptions so he could live independently.

They bought him a special handcycle so that he could get out of the house and start to live again in the Cumbrian Hills.

Earlier this week, I met David in Chorley’s Astley Park to talk about his experience in Afghanistan.

After struggling to find the right words all he is able to say is, “it was hell on earth”.

“I’ve not always been able to speak to people about what happened. But the Royal British Legion have always been there at the end of the phone.”

That’s when his old friend Coops arrives to join us in the park. The two embrace and are lost for words.

“We were both there,” said Coops. “We both did the same thing. Everything we did, we more or less did it together.”

Over the past decade, however, they have grown apart.

The mental scars of war had made David retreat until he was alone and had given up hope.

“We were a lot closer in the early days, you’re right,” David says to Coops. “I drifted away.”

“You did,” replies Coops. “But I know where you are now. I won’t let you drift away again. I’ll come and find you.”

Coops remained in a coma for five weeks before being told he would never be able to walk or talk again, but he defied the medics.

The Royal British Legion funded adaptions to his home and also provided a handcycle for him to get outdoors.

“They’ve been amazing,” he said. “They have always been there for us, and I can’t thank them enough.”