Former soldier from Cumbria says the Royal British Legion ‘saved his life’

David Plant was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2010

Kingsman David Plant
Author: May NormanPublished 11th Nov 2024

A former soldier from Cumbria who lost both of his legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan says the Royal British Legion has ‘saved his life’.

The armed forces charity recently helped 34-year-old former Kingsman David Plant to move from his native Lancashire to a new bungalow in Talkin near Carlisle. They also helped to fund a new £10,000 handcycle for him to get out onto the Cumbrian hills.

But it was a crucial phone call to the RBL whilst living in an isolated village in Spain that prevented David from taking his own life.

David was just 20 years old when he went to Afghanistan with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

David stepped on an IED (improvised explosive device) just three minutes after a good friend of his suffered the same fate.

David was winched away and evacuated by helicopter.

He said: “I was drifting in and out of consciousness, I thought my life was over, I was scared and angry, but I found myself forgiving a lot of things, as well, because I was preparing to meet my maker.

"As I was being winched away, I thought about all the stupid things I’d been angry about in my life and I just said a prayer.”

Kingsman David Plant

After 18 months of rehab, David bounced around between his hometown of Nelson in Lancashire and Palomares in Spain, but he was haunted by the past and frustrated by the injury.

He said: “In Spain, I was ready to end it all, I was in a very dark place. I found a card for the Royal British Legion (RBL) and rang the number - within an hour the guys were there, they scooped me up and took me to stay by them in Murcia. They saved my life.

“They made me some macaroni cheese with hot dog sausages cut up in it; I sat and cried and ate it and I’m still in touch with them today. Without them I would not be here.”

The RBL Overseas Team supported David whilst in Spain, and then helped to fund a bespoke £10,000 handcycle to assist his physical and mental wellbeing, before his return to the UK, where he has been supported by the RBL to secure his new home in Cumbria.

David said: “The RBL paid my first month’s rent and the deposit on my new bungalow, which was a huge help. In the army, if someone helped you, it meant you were weak, so it’s taken me a long time to accept help. But I’ve lowered my guard now, because I can see that the system works. I’ve got a Case Worker from the RBL called Erin and she is fantastic, I’ve got a support network and people to talk to on the phone when I need it.”

David says that moving to Cumbria was daunting, but he has been welcomed by the local community. He said: “Moving to Talkin, I have distanced myself from my old life, I’m in the village group chat, I go to the quiz in the community hall and I go to the local church. I had completely lost my faith when I was back home in Lancashire, but here is completely different.”

David says he now wants to give something back by helping the Royal British Legion with their annual Poppy Appeal in Cumbria. He said: “To everyone who buys a poppy, I want to say ‘thank you’ for saving my life. I would not be here without you and the RBL.”

RBL Case Officer Erin Adamson said: “David has worked incredibly hard to get himself into a good place, and we are very proud and privileged to have been able to support him. He served his country with distinction and it is great that we are able to recognise his service and sacrifice with the support that we can provide for him.”

For more information on the Royal British Legion, please visit the website.

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