A series to watch: 'Wounded' - starting Wednesday September 23rd 2009 on BBC 1 at 9:00pm

This programme/series is one of the the reasons why we are doing the 'Help for Heroes 4x4 European Rally'!

'Wounded' - showing Wednesday September 23rd on BBC 1 at 9:00pm

For the first time, the Ministry of Defence has allowed TV cameras to follow wounded soldiers from the moment they are flown back to the UK, right the way through their treatment at Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital and its Defence Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.

With enormous public interest in the medical care given to injured soldiers, Wounded is a unique documentary which shows the reality behind the headlines when British soldiers are reported "very seriously wounded" in Afghanistan.

The film opens with 19-year-old Royal Irish Ranger Andy Allen, who is blown up by an improvised explosive device (IED). Within 48 hours he is flown back to Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital where a team of NHS and military medics fight to keep him alive.

With Andy unconscious, his family conducts a bedside vigil. His mother, Linda, always at his side, talks with searing honesty about her concerns for her son when he comes round and finds out that he has lost both legs and is blind as a result of burns to his eyes.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old Paratrooper, Lance Corporal Tom Neathway, remained fully conscious after an IED exploded when he moved a booby-trapped sandbag. Both his legs were blown off and his left arm was damaged so badly that it had to be amputated. Five weeks after the blast, Tom is sitting up in bed in the hospital plotting his return to his regiment.

Surviving their injuries is just the beginning. Tom and Andy then face months of rehabilitation at Headley Court. Here they join a community of wounded soldiers who, with determination and a healthy dose of squaddie humour, urge each other on. Slowly, they start rebuilding their lives and make plans for the future.

Tom's aim is to learn how to walk on his artificial legs by the time he collects his campaign medal from Prince Charles. Andy is just desperate to be allowed home to Belfast as his girlfriend has just had a baby. His greatest wish is that his eyes heal enough for him to see his newborn son.

This extraordinary film follows the story of these two remarkable young men and their families through what is a difficult and hard-fought battle to move on with their lives.

that should be a good one to watch!! will be very hard hitting

going to set the sky+ for this one as Snow said its going to hammer it home why were doing it and hammer hard I would imagine

My other half watched a screening of this a couple of months back at TV Centre. She said it was tough watching.

Not half as tough as being one of the fellas involved though!

I'll make a point of watching it, but I already know why we are all doing what we are doing.

It's because we care.

That triple amputee is a star!!

Hard as nails and determined, good man!

im going to watch this in a min I set the sky box to tape it as I was at the gym, I clocked it on the tv in the gym and knew straight away what it was and it made me think I might be going through a bit on the old treadmill but nothing compared to what them lads are going through.

I now its going to be a hard hitting program to watch and as the General said its cos we care and hopefully it will make others realise why were doing it and help us to help them

Watched the first one for some daft reason sky+ didnt set the link to the 2nd one and I thought it was on next week and not after the news so will have to break out BBC iplayer and catch it when they are both at Hendly Court.

I dont know when it was filmed but I hope both of them are both well on the way to were they want to be, and both of them have my admeration I dont know if I could go through anything like that.

Words are difficult to write after having seen the programme. What courage those guys had - and that was just a snap-shot into their new lives. Sadly, other guys/families will have similar stories.

When formulating the idea of this rally Tim & I discussed at length which charity we should nominate and support - and of course decided on H4H. There is a large number of fantastic charities out there - all of them for great causes and doing a great job.

Since launching the rally we have received emails/calls from people asking us why we didn't nominate xxxx charity or yyyy charity. I've agreed with them that xxxx charity and yyyy charity were excellent - but that we could standby just one charity. Whilst we've always known our charity choice was the right one, last night's programme fully vindicated that decision.

H4H - we, & all on this event, are fully behind you; and what a task you've got.

well said keith

I coundn't agree more keith

nicely put

jez.

Great to see those fellas just getting straight on with it as soon as they could.

Even before they were trying on new legs they were back to being squaddies & giving each other grief, good stuff!

Very moving episode to watch. The missus and I watched it together and it was very heart wrenching to watch. Highlights of the program for me were the commitment of the guys to get back to their mates they had fought with.
Sad to see armed guards outside the hospital
Big thumbs up to the staff at both hospitals what a fabulous bunch of guy and girls.

Tony
(feeling very humbled today)

Watched it all and for the first time since joining this forum, I'm speechless.

Watched it in its entirity last night with the family. I actually applauded the t.v when tom (triple amputee) managed to get up and walk on his stubbies for the first time....that guy was 100% cast iron hero for me.

I thought it was truly remarkable when towards the end of the second programme when he was getting ready to leave Hedley he remarked "Its not going to beat me, i'm sure of that...after all it could have been worse"

As has been mentioned in a previous post.....that 20 year old lad is making someone more that twice his age feel very humble today

Words are hard to find!
Respect.