War veteran honours day he was blown up in Afghanistan

Dave Watson, 36, was on foot patrol in Helmand Province and was wading through a stream when he stepped on a hidden device that tore off both his legs and an arm 13 years ago.

Despite suffering life-changing injuries that almost killed him, May 27 is not only a day he survived but it also led to him meeting the love of his life at a charity event - his wife, Becky, 40, with whom he has two daughters, Erin and Paige, and a stepson, Josh.

Dave who lives in Romsley said: “The days leading up to it I think about the guys I served with and the ones we lost along the way, but it is not a day I am bitter about, that’s just not me.

Dave Watson served in Afghanistan. (Image: Help for Heroes.)

“I celebrate May 27 every year because if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have my wife and children, so we go out and do fun things and enjoy being together.”

This year, his 'Boom Day' celebrations were quieter than usual, as Dave is recovering from recent surgery, but a fundraising event was held to mark the occasion.

As a keen angler, he is an ambassador of Hooked for Heroes, a group which holds regular match fishing events whilst raising thousands of pounds for Help for Heroes.

Well-wishers were encouraged to donate £1 through Hooked for Heroes for the charity which has just launched The Veterans War campaign to raise awareness that when a conflict ends, the battles for some don’t.

Dave, who is originally from Preston, was following in his grandad’s brother’s footsteps and fulfilling a lifelong ambition when he joined the Scots Guards in 2007.

Dave was three and a half months into a seven month deployment in Afghanistan when he stepped on a hidden device. (Image: Help for Heroes.)

He was three-and-a-half months into a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan when the horrific event happened on May 27, 2010.

“I was on foot patrol in Helmand Province, and we waded through a stream,” said Dave.

“My mate behind me slipped and as I turned to help him, I stepped on something. I heard a click.

“The next thing I knew I was being dragged out and I could hear the guys telling me not to look down.”

The bomb Dave had stepped on had torn off both legs and an arm.

“All that was left were my shin bones and my kneecaps,” said Dave.

!I could feel pins and needles in my arm and when I looked, the skin had separated from the bone.

“My arm was dangling, held on by its tendons, and I knew straight away that I’d lost it.”

Dave Watson (right) with Dave Stott from Hooked for Heroes (left). (Image: Help for Heroes.)

Dave was pulled to safety but died– and was resuscitated - three times on the helicopter as it flew to a nearby hospital.

But within weeks he began walking on prosthetic limbs and just a year later he competed in his first Invictus Games, winning a gold medal in discus and a bronze in shot put – a year after that he claimed two more golds.

He added: “If I hadn’t been in the military and I hadn’t been blown up, I wouldn’t have won the medals I’ve won.

“I wouldn’t have met my wife at a charity event, I wouldn’t have my kids.  Everything happens for a reason.”

To donate to Dave’s fundraising page visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/david-stott-1684941761410.