Stu Pearson

In November 2014, Stuart attended a world film premiere in Leicester Square. Dressed in black tie, with medals adorning his chest, he was stopped on the red carpet for interview repeatedly. It was a surreal experience because Stuart is not an actor or film director; he’s a former paratrooper – and was undoubtedly one of the most important guests on the night.

The film Kajaki, set in Afghanistan in summer of 2006, tells the true story of 12 men who risked their lives to help each other. By the end of their ordeal, Corporal Mark Wright had died aged 27, three of the men had lost limbs – one being Stuart – and another three had been seriously injured. Their incredible bravery earned four of them medals from the Queen.

Stuart, now a property developer and casualty simulation specialist says the film’s scriptwriters did a good job. “Although I’d read the script a few times, I was still surprised when the mines went off. But I managed not to cry, and even my girlfriend, Julia, held it together. I held her hand throughout the film. It’s not too distressing for me now.”

Stuart was given the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his actions. He now plays the role of someone wounded to train medics and other Service Personnel. “Having real amputees there for training, with realistic blood and ‘stage make up’, will mean that when a medic is faced with a real-life situation where someone has lost a limb it will be less of a visual shock and enable them to do their job better.

“It’s paid work and gives me huge job satisfaction: Recently we worked with a unit that was hopeless at the start of the week and vastly improved by the end. Working with me, looking like I’ve just lost my leg, might enable someone to save a life in the future.”