Injured Shropshire soldier set to return home

A soldier severely injured in battle in Afghanistan will tomorrow make an emotional return home to Shropshire for the first time in two and a half years.

Corporal Simon Vaughan, 26, of Hodnet, near Market Drayton, suffered a serious brain injury in December 2008 when a vehicle he was travelling drove over an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province.

His family was told by doctors that his brain injuries were so severe he would remain in a vegetative state for the rest of his life.

But the father of one has already improved hugely at Headley Court, a defence medical rehabilitation centre near Epsom.

His wife Donna has been fund-raising in a bid to get the £100,000 needed to build a bungalow at the family home in Ercall Heath, near Newport.

With the bungalow yet to be finished, Corporal Vaughan will be staying with his in-laws at Childs Ercall until Sunday before returning to Headley Court.

Mrs Vaughan said: "The family have gone wild at the news he will be returning home to Shropshire for the first time in two-and-a-half years. It will be good for him to do some normal things he hasn't been able to do for so long like go out shopping.

"We will also be visiting the bungalow.

"His mum Lynne will be helping me look after him at the weekend. He has got movement in his right arm and legs, but can't stand up on his own yet.

"But he has got his mind and personality."