Real life stories: Afghan Veteran Mark Smith

Mark Smith lost his right leg after an accident during a live firing exercise in Canada. Since being discharged from the Grenadier Guards, he had gone on to become a trailblazing bodybuilder. He has already won a national competition and is now wholly focused on becoming the top disabled competitor in the world.

“I’d always wanted to be in the Forces and so I joined when I was 18. I joined the Grenadier Guards and did six months of ceremonial duties in London before going to Bosnia where we involved in a lot of house searches and dealing with human trafficking."

I went to Baghdad and Basra in 2006, which I enjoyed. I also deployed to Jamaica, The Falklands and Kenya. I did well, completed my Corporal’s course, got promoted, and went to Afghanistan in 2009. Life was good, but then I went to Canada in 2011 on Pre-Deployment Training. That’s when I got injured.

I was working as safety staff for the Yorkshire regiment during a live firing exercise. As soldiers were going through their drills clearing temporary buildings I was shot through the wall. The rounds went through my leg and shoulder. One hit an artery, which meant I only had a couple of minutes before I bleed out.

I was flown to Calgary and spent two weeks in intensive care. I died and was resuscitated six times over the next week. When I woke up, a doctor was standing over me with a consent form to sign saying it was ok to remove my leg. They said if they didn’t take it, I wouldn’t see out that day. I begged them to take it below the knee, but it had to be above. Several more operations took it higher and higher.

The lads came to visit me and I was pleased to be alive – the leg didn’t matter. I took inspiration from the guy opposite. He was a triple amputee and was up and about in a wheel chair within a few days. I went to Headley Court and discovered that I found some peace from working out in the Gym. During rehab the gym was the only place I wouldn’t dwell on my injury – it was an escape from it, and that helped me a lot.

Initially I thought; “I’m going to walk better than any other amputee and I’ll become a Sergeant.” But it soon became apparent that wouldn’t happen. When the pain stopped I had time to think, and I got depressed. My wife was struggling with the baby. I was seeing lads leave hospital ahead of me, and thought; “When is it my turn?”

That’s when I went to Headley and discovered that I found some peace from working out in the gym. During rehab the gym was the only place I wouldn’t dwell on my injury – it was an escape from it, and it helped me a lot. I found a sort of peace in lifting weights, like I’d discovered myself again.

I first looked into competitions back in November 2013 and one, Pure Elite was scheduled for the following May. I asked my trainer if it was possible to get to competition standard by then and he said yes. I was so excited. We sorted out my diet and started a specific training regime. The more I saw my body change, the more I got into it.  

I missed the Army like mad for a long time and I was always monitoring what my military mates were doing – seeing their promotions and knowing I’d have the same if I was still in. It was hard not to get upset about that. Bodybuilding is the first thing I’ve done that has made me stop missing the Army. I’m finally happy with what I’m doing and that’s been great for me and my family.