Army hero Ben Parkinson is home for Christmas after surviving horrific injuries in landmine explosion

12 April 2012

Like thousands of others, Ben Parkinson will receive a mobile phone this Christmas. But the moment his parents hand over the gift will mark an extraordinary step in this young man's life.

It will be the celebration his family were told would never happen.

The paratrooper returned home yesterday for the first time since he suffered horrific injuries while fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan more than a year ago. He was left unable to walk or speak.

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A time for family: Ben with his mother Diane and twin Danny at home in Doncaster

Doctors had not expected him to survive when a landmine explosion shattered his body.

But his recovery has been so extraordinary that his speech is now good enough to use the phone.

Ben will be spending Christmas Day with his parents, his twin Danny and older brother Phil, 26, sister Emma, 16, and all his grandparents.

His mother Diane said: "It will be as normal a day as possible with a big turkey lunch, presents and lots of games - that's what Ben likes.

"Because his speech is coming on so well we've got him a mobile phone. We wouldn't have thought that would be possible a few months ago.

"Then there'll be a stream of visits from every friend from school and the Army and the rugby club. It's going to be very busy."

Supported by generous Daily Mail readers, the young soldier is spearheading a legal battle for fairer compensation payments for severely injured veterans.

Twelve months ago he spent Christmas in a coma - which experts were convinced would be permanent.

This year he is looking forward to an emotional family reunion. There will also be a special Boxing Day rugby match in his honour, organised by former team-mates in his home town of Doncaster.

The 23-year-old lance bombardier is said by Army medics to be the most severely-injured British serviceman to survive his wounds.

The blast destroyed his Land Rover and Ben, a tough paratrooper, lost both legs and the use of one arm, endured terrible fractures including to his skull, face and spine, and suffered brain damage robbing him of the power of speech and much of his memory.

But to his doctors' astonishment he is recovering well enough to enjoy a two-week break from the Headley Court military rehabilitation centre in Surrey.

Fighting man: Ben in Afghanistan

Speaking through a voice synthesiser, Ben told the Mail: "I knew I would be here for Christmas. The doctors didn't think I'd be ready.

"But they also said I would never walk, and had to change their minds. I've walked the length of the gym with crutches."

Asked for his thoughts on the Mail's campaign, he gives a thumbs up, and says: "Good."

His mother bit back tears as she said: "Last Christmas was just terrible. Ben was in a coma. But this year is wonderful.

"At times we thought we would never get here. There have been dark days, and we didn't know if he'd make it home this year.

"We're just so happy to have him home. It's Christmas in every sense."

She added: "I'm proud of what he did before in the Army, and I'm proud of the way he's fought back from his injuries. He's never given up, and nor will we."

His speech is still limited, and he is a long way from recovering proper use of his arms - one of which shakes uncontrollably at times, causing him to hit it with his good arm in frustration.

His mother and step-father recently bought a bungalow which they are adapting for his use. He needs a home large enough to house carers and visiting relatives, and the four-bedroom bungalow cost £365,000 - even before work widening doorways for his wheelchair and installing a bathroom and bed hoist.

That has more than used up the £285,000 compensation lump sum the Ministry of Defence now claims is all he deserves.

Ben insists he has no regrets about joining the Army, which he still loves. His treatment by the Ministry of Defence is another matter.

The Daily Mail took up Ben's case to highlight the appalling shortcomings of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme for troops injured in battle.

Despite his terrible injuries, the scheme's small print meant Ben was offered just £152,150 - barely half the maximum allowed and less than a third of the £484,000 given to a civilian RAF typist who suffered a strain injury to her hand.

When the Mail asked readers to contribute £50,000 for a legal fighting fund to challenge the rules of the scheme, they responded magnificently by sending in £230,000 in just days.

The surplus is being passed on to service charities.

The MoD eventually agreed to increase Ben's payment to the scheme's maximum of £285,000, and reviewed the complex rules - based on set tariffs for injuries.

But the changes they later announced fell far short of what campaigners believe is fair.

Yesterday Ben's lawyers, Irwin Mitchell, announced that they had launched a High Court action against the MoD, seeking a judicial review of the scheme's rules.

As for Ben's future, he will stay at Headley Court for as long as he is making progress.

"If I keep on improving, which I am, I could be there for a year," he said.

After that, he is clinging to his hopes of returning to his career.

Asked what he wants to do with the rest of his life, Ben has only one answer. "I am still in the Army."

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