A bomb-disposal expert described as the most severely wounded survivor of the Afghanistan conflict received a hero’s welcome in Newark.
Warrant Officer Ken Bellringer (centre) surrounded by, clockwise from top left, his mother Mrs Iris Bellringer, father Mr Ray Bellringer, wife Mrs Chris Bellringer, and children Neeve and Harry. (280810AM1-6)
Warrant Officer Ken Bellringer, 38, was given a 10-20% chance of surviving after being caught up in a blast that killed a colleague he had gone to help.
“I grabbed him behind his elbows to heave him out and I remember putting my foot forward to brace myself, then there was an almighty explosion,” said Warrant Officer Bellringer.
“To me everything really slowed down, it felt like I was tumbling through the air. I remember thinking: ‘This is going to hurt when I land.’
“I landed and it took the wind out of me. I instinctively knew I had lost my legs.”
Warrant Officer Bellringer lost both legs above the knee, both thumbs, the little finger on his left hand, and suffered a shattered pelvis and muscle damage to his arms.
He had stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device.
On Saturday — nine months after the incident — family and friends waved Union flags as he arrived at the home of his proud parents, Mr and Mrs Ray Bellringer, in Balderton.
It was the first time he had been able to return to his home town.
His mother, Mrs Iris Bellringer, said: “I have waited for this day for such a long time. I am very proud of him.
“We’re extremely lucky that he’s still alive.
“Many mums and dads haven’t got their sons.”
Also sharing the emotional homecoming, and there to welcome officially the recovering hero, who defused more than 60 live explosive devices, were the Mayor of Newark, Mr Tony Roberts, and the town’s MP, Mr Patrick Mercer.
