A former Mansfield soldier says he had no option but to leave the "career he'd always dreamed of" after suffering a life-changing injury. Vance Bacon-Sharratt served in the Army's Mercian Regiment and while attending a firepower demonstration (FPD) in October 2016, an explosion took place which left him with hearing loss and tinnitus.
The 33-year-old has now secured a £350,000 settlement from the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which will be used to pay for the ongoing specialist therapies and support he required. The MoD denied liability and said: "The health and well-being of our people is always our priority."
Mr Bacon-Sharatt first joined the Army in 2008 but following the 2016 explosion, he had to leave his career behind two years later. He now works as a driving instructor and lives with his partner Jemma and two daughters.
