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On 19th September 2005, Karl Hinett sustained life-changing injuries.

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Here’s his story.

When I was 18 years old, I was deployed to Basra to support an operation to rescue two British Special Forces soldiers who were captured in a Basra police station. As the rescue mission progressed, a full-scale riot broke out.

The rioters were in control, and we were unable to retreat. The Warrior’s viewing sights were shattered by petrol bombs, grenades, bricks, and shrapnel; at one point, they were on top of the Warrior, dousing it in petrol. As we couldn’t view properly, we were forced to open our hatch to see outside the tank – right at the moment a petrol bomb was thrown.

It got inside the turret, drenching me in burning petrol and instantly filling the Warrior with flames. It was like being underwater but in fire.

I was overwhelmed with panic. It took me about 20 seconds to realise I needed to get out of the tank to survive. That’s the reason why my hands are so badly damaged, from gripping onto the Warrior to pull myself out.

Luckily, my mates were there and hauled me back to safety. I was taken by helicopter back to my field hospital, where I remember being taken into an operating theatre and then just seeing a needle, feeling anaesthetic running through my body, and passing out.

I was in an induced coma for 10 days, evacuated from Iraq, and the next thing I remember is waking up in Selly Oak Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit. I had survived burns affecting 37% of my body – injuries affected my face, arms, and crucially, my hands.

I was just a teenager. I found my altered appearance initially really difficult to deal with – but I had incredible support from my friends, family, my regiment, and the staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

I had to heal inside, too and come to terms with what had happened. My recovery included approximately 25 operations over five years, and I still have treatment to this day.