Preston veteran who lost both legs and an arm in Afghanistan says '20 years of work destroyed in 48 hours'
Dave Watson stood on an explosive while serving there in 2010.
An army veteran from Preston who lost both of his legs and an arm while serving in Afghanistan has told us the situation unfolding in the country is 'soul destroying'.
The Taliban has claimed around 90% of state buildings in Afghanistan are under its control after the insurgents declared the war in the country is over.
Over 450 British personnel lost their lives in Afghanistan and the Government has spent more than 22 billion pounds on the 20-year conflict.
Dave Watson lost both of his legs and an arm when he stood on an IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in the country while serving there in 2010.
Since being injured he's competed two Invictus Games, receiving bronze and gold medals in shot put and discus events at his first games and four more medals from his second games including two more golds.
He said watching the scenes unfold on the news is heartbreaking: “I’ve lost friends. I’ve seen my friends die out there. I’ve seen my friends come back and get PTSD and mental health problems and take their own lives…that’s what it does to you. Some of my mates literally witnessed me getting blown up in front of them. That is hard to see.
“Every time we went out on patrol, the kids were playing out in the street, the local nationals used to come up and talk to us with smiles on their faces. That was showing us our work was getting done. It’s seeing all them smiles and happy faces turned into frowns and people just get to get themselves out of their homes and out of the country…it’s bad to see.
“It’s just soul destroying, because some of us paid the biggest consequence and they lost their life. Others have come back with life changing injuries, it’s hard. I went into that dark hole. I turned to the drink, I turned to the drugs and that were my happy place, that were making me forget.
“Nearly 500 lives have been lost - that’s just British soldiers anyway – and all the people that have had their lives turned upside down…all that just makes you think, was that for nothing?
“It’s upsetting, to see 20 years of work by all the forces out there to be gone within 48 hours.”