Paratrooper learns to walk again

The former paratrooper will undergo back surgery in April

A paratrooper who suffered massive injuries in Afghanistan has overcome huge obstacles to start walking again.

Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, 23, from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, lost both legs and suffered head injuries in a landmine blast in 2006.

His mother has said he was not expected to survive.

Mr Parkinson is learning to walk using artificial legs at the Ministry of Defence's rehabilitation centre near Epsom in Surrey.

His mother Diane Dernie, 50, who lives in Doncaster, said: "He is getting on brilliantly, although it's a long, long process.

"It's just an extraordinary achievement, especially as his head injury took all his balance away."

He wasn't supposed to to survive, or to regain consciousness. To walk, that's just the icing on the cake for Ben

Ben's mother Diane Dernie

Although experts have told Lance Bombardier Parkinson that he may never be able to move freely outdoors, his mother said his progress had far exceeded the expectations of the medical profession.

The soldier, from 7 Parachute Regiment at the Royal Horse Artillery, can now stand independently.

His mother said: "It was thought that he would never sit up, so to be walking, walking in any form, is fantastic.

"He wasn't supposed to to survive, or to regain consciousness. To walk, that's just the icing on the cake for Ben."

Lance Bombardier Parkinson will now face his next battle in April when he has back surgery to rectify curvature of the spine caused by damaged vertebrae.

His mother said: "Ben would never accept half measures.

"If there is any possibility this operation could make things better for him, or help him walk, he would always go for it."