An heroic Shropshire soldier horrifically injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan after saving the lives of four comrades said “I was only doing my job”.

Corporal Ricky Furgusson said he knew he had been awarded the Military Cross for bravery but what he did was just part and parcel of his work and he is looking forward to the future as a “happy man”.

The modest 4th Battalion The Rifles soldier lost both legs, an eye and fingers on both hands in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in January.

He won the MC, which is awarded for “an act or acts of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy”, for having previously been no fewer than four times to the aid of wounded soldiers injured by improvised explosive devices.

Corporal Fergusson returned home to an emotional hero’s welcome with a street party held in his honour in Hilton Close, Stirchley, on Friday. More than 20 neighbours, family and friends hung out buntings and flags for his return and contributed to a bottle of champagne.

Despite his terrible injuries, Corporal Fergusson told the Shropshire Star: “I’m a happy man.

“There is no point looking back. There is nothing you can do about it. I look forward to what happens next.”

Corporal Fergusson said he remembered helping his comrades but had no recollection of the blast which caught him or of anything for five weeks afterwards.

He initially spent 17 weeks at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

“I am an active person but I was in intensive care and had to lie around doing nothing for 17 weeks,” he said.

“Then when I went to Headley Court I started working and that was enjoyment for me.You are getting back into the real world doing that.”

Corporal Fergusson currently spends four weeks at Headley Court and then four weeks home. He said progress was never as fast as he would like it to be but a fortnight ago he was fitted with two, state-of-the-art prosthetic legs, costing £32,000, and just three days ago he learnt to walk on them without bars.

He said: “I have a lot of operations to go. That is my immediate goal, to recover.”

By Simon Hardy