The mother of a Shropshire soldier who was seriously injured in an explosion in Afghanistan exactly 12 months ago today spoke of her pride at the way he has recovered and started to rebuild his life.

Captain Nick Beighton, of Radbrook Green, Shrewsbury, lost his legs in a blast in the notorious Helmand Province on October 5, 2009. Captain Beighton, 29, was serving for The Royal Engineers at the time.

However, his year-long rehabilitation programme at Headley Court, Surrey, has seen him continue in his love for all things active, taking part in rock-climbing, water-skiing and white-water rafting.

Mother Sue Beighton said her son had remained optimistic throughout the last year and with the help of a number of charities he was able to continue living an “active” and “fulfilling” life — and he is now training to try to join the Great Britain Paralympic Rowing Team.

Training

She said: “I am very proud of him and how he has come to terms with such a distinctive change in his life. His rehabilitation has gone very well and he has received help from so many charities including Help for Heroes and Battleback.

“He has been able to continue sports and adventurous training to help him with his rehabilitation and he is now working hard to join the Great British Paralympic Rowing Team.”

A year ago today, the former Radbrook Primary School and Meole Brace Secondary School pupil was found in the dark by a Fijian private who wrapped his wounds and gave him morphine.

Mrs Beighton said her son needed 36 pints of blood in transfusions.

She said he had more operations to go through but was now learning to run on prosthetic legs so he could take on a number of new sporting challenges.

Mrs Beighton is to hold a private tea morning tomorrow at the Stargazers Nursery, in Longden Road, where she works, to raise cash for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association.

By Sam Pinnington