Soldier Al Hodgson thought he was a goner when he triggered an IRA booby trap.
The blast took both of the 21-year-old’s legs and shattered his pelvis. But the bomb had only half-exploded – and three brave pals ignored the danger to charge in and save him.
Fellow Parachute Regiment members Matt Hellyer, Kenny Davidson and Ian ‘Ilch’ Illidge got Al to a helicopter near Cappagh, Co Tyrone, on May 12, 1992.
And now, Al and Matt are part of a 10-strong team rowing the Channel, from Poole Harbour to Cherbourg and back, for charity Pilgrim Bandits, which helps injured squaddies.
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Al, now 51, of Kendal, Cumbria, said: “Matt and I will be rowing side by side, attempting to set a record.
“When I think back to that day, one of the things that stands out and fills me with so much pride was seeing those three boys running towards me, through danger, with the sole intent of keeping me alive.
“It was like a movie moment, when you watch something incredible on a cinema screen.
“I try to live each day in honour of being given a second chance of life and their heroism that day.”
Matt, the boss of the charity, said of that fateful day: “We started working on him, then realised the device was only half-detonated and it was still smouldering under him. Your priorities take over – we were never going to leave him.”
Al added: “I remember telling Matt, ‘I feel really tired.’ He said, ‘It’s going to be OK.’ They all did their bit to save me.”
Since then, Al has honoured his pledge to live life to the full, becoming an international skydiving champ.
He added: “When Matt asked me to join the team I thought there’s no way I’m going to miss it as I owe Matt, Ilch and Kenny – who passed away from illness a few years ago – everything.”
- To donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Pilgrimshop
