Inspirational Taunton soldier is back for Christmas (From Somerset County Gazette)

Inspirational Taunton soldier is back for Christmas

12:20pm Thursday 24th December 2009 in News By Alex Cameron

A Taunton soldier, who is fighting back after losing his legs in an Afghanistan bomb blast, is celebrating coming home for Christmas but says his thoughts are with his comrades overseas.

In November, the County Gazette reported the inspirational story of 25-year-old Lance-Cpl Stephan van Niekerk, who refused to be downbeat despite losing his left leg, his lower right leg, damaging or losing five fingers and breaking his arm when he stepped on an explosive device serving with the 3rd Battalion The Rifles.

The former student of Bishop Fox’s Community School, Taunton, has spent two weeks at Headley Court military rehabilitation centre.

He was welcomed home on leave to Taunton last week by his wife Sadie, 25.

He said: “I’ve started learning to walk again and the support is unbelievable. They know where your boundaries are and how to work you and get the best out of you.

“Seeing other guys who are worse off than you are is inspirational.”

Stephan has been given a prosthetic limb for his right leg but has to undergo an operation before receiving one for his left.

He said Headley Court organised trips to keep up spirits to events like boxing matches and Wasps rugby, adding that he had seen Ozzy Osbourne on a visit to rehearsals for the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. He has even put his name down for a skiing trip in March.

“It’s amazing to be back for Christmas having been so close to losing my life but it also makes me think about the rest of the lads still working out there. It makes me feel guilty that I’m celebrating and feeling happy,” he added.

Stephan continues his rehabilitation at Headley Court from early January.