A NEWPORT soldier says he is lucky to be alive after surviving a mortar attack on his army base in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal Paul Ratcliffe from the Welsh Guards was serving in Sangin province during a sixth month tour when a mortar attack landed in his British base.

Lance Corporal Ratcliffe, of Broadmead Park, sustained three shrapnel wounds to his right upper arm in August, and was flown home to Birmingham’s Selly Oak hospital three days later to begin the road to recovery.

Two months on, the former Hartridge High School pupil is back in training at his Aldershot barracks, and is now appealing for people to give generously to the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal so it can help people like him.

Thirty-one-year-old Lance Corporal Ratcliffe joined the army in 2003, serving in Kosovo and Iraq before flying out to Afghanistan in March this year to train Afghan troops.

But on August 20 Lance Corporal Ratcliffe was crossing his army compound when a mortar exploded in front of him.

Despite shrapnel wounds to his right arm, he managed to get himself to shelter where his sergeant major gave him initial first aid: “I remember the pain and the shock of actually being injured. It was really quite scary.

"When you’re over there, getting injured is something that goes through your mind, it’s always with you, but I had tried to put it out of my mind.”

Lance Corporal Ratcliffe was given morphine before being sent to Camp Bastion for an operation to remove the remaining shrapnel and repair the wound with 20 staples.

“The main thing was I still had all my limbs and I was still here,” he said.

After two days, he was stable enough to fly home to the military wing of Selly Oak hospital, where he spent two days before being released.

Although Lance Corporal Ratcliffe said his arm is not as strong as it once was and damaged nerve endings mean parts are still numb, there should be no lasting damage, and he could even be back in Afghanistan in 18 months time.

Lance Corporal Ratcliffe says he takes great strength from knowing he will always have the support of the Welsh Guards Afghanistan Appeal.

The appeal, which was launched in September, will raise money for guardsman injured during the conflict, particularly those who have had to leave the army, to help them with long and short term rehabilitation programmes.

Lance Corporal Ratcliffe said for people like him, this provided a huge comfort.

“This fund can help us to get back on our feet and know people are still thinking of us. It lets any Welsh Guard know they will always be a member of this family.”

To donate, go to www.welshguardsappeal.com.