Albert Thomson
Albert Thomson is 38, married with a son and lives in Peterborough. He was in the Armed Forces (Army) for 18 years and was medically discharged at the rank of Colour Sergeant 18 months ago. Here he tells his story of disaster, survival and the launch of a successful business….
“I was posted to Iraq in 2003. In the March of that year I had returned from a QRF Tasking in Al-Zubayr, near Basra when suddenly I was hit by friendly fire. The shots came from a machine gun mounted on a Warrior Armoured Vehicle and I was severely wounded in both legs and my hand.
“I spent two days slipping in and out of consciousness, having an above-the-knee amputation before being flown home. After the surgery I was very well looked after at the hospital in Chelmsford – fabulous care – and my confidence and general health started to return.
“In June 2003 I attended RAF Headley Court for rehabilitation and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Roehampton where I was fitted with my first prosthetic. I was walking again within weeks. “It was at this time that I was invited to the Queen’s Garden Party which was a great honour. It was a pleasurable experience and helped introduce me back into society.
“My attitude from the start was pretty positive. I think that’s army training for you. I was just keen to get over the incident and get on with it. I was particularly determined to get back to work as I had been promoted to Colour Sergeant and re-deployed to a UK base just outside Warminster in Wiltshire where I took on a new role in Whole Fleet Management, teaching a new system of Asset Management to the Armed Forces.
“I started attending a local rehab clinic – close to my posting – and was fitted with a C-leg. But I could never quite get the right comfort from my socket. That was until I met Jamie – one of the prosthesis’ at PACE.
“Jamie sorted out the socket and now I am thinking about some physio to improve how I walk – I’ve started to make really great progress.”
“Having come out of the army and feeling positive about my leg and my ability to do things I have now started my own business. It is of course related to my experience and some of the fantastic people I have met along my journey from injury to rehab and life again.
“I re-create scenes of devastation such as bomb blasts using amputees as casualties to give a more realistic simulation and have trained in the use of Pyrotechnics and the application of Special Effect Make-up to aid the simulations. I am also in the film business providing amputees for roles in films and documentaries.
“It’s great work – not only making a living for myself and my family – but providing income and new experiences for those like me – who live lives as amputees. There is quite a demand!”
“I am also heavily involved with BLESMA (British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association) and the Not Forgotten Association which provides entertainment and recreation for the Service and Ex-Service Disabled.
“It’s now four years since I was shot and life has turned around remarkably. I have had a lot of help and encouragement along the way but I drove myself on because I wanted it to be a new beginning not an end. Married for nineteen years with a five-year old son and thriving livelihood, I could not do any of it without the support of my family and confidence in my prosthesis. Life is good.”
For more information on Albert’s business please visit www.ampsim.co.uk