Albert Thomson was only six days into the war in Iraq when he lost his left leg after a Warrior armoured vehicle accidentally opened fire on him.

He was treated in an NHS hospital in Roehampton and, though he praises the care he receives, he says that the civilian system did not have the right resources. “I was in the same queue as everybody else,” he said. “The NHS couldn't supply what I needed.”

Eventually he went private, buying a £25,000 state-of-the-art prosthetic limb with his insurance money.

He remains self-conscious about his injury, saying: “I wouldn't wear shorts in the UK.” He still doesn't like having to exercise in a civilian environment, where he can't hide his amputation. “I wouldn't go to the gym. I feel uncomfortable about it.”

He left the Army in 2005, and started a company, Action Amps, that uses amputees in role play to train medics, soldiers and emergency services in how to respond to serious accidents. In January, he won the Radar Disabled Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Mr Thomson, who received compensation from the Ministry of Defence, feels no sense of bitterness. He said: “If it's going to happen to you, it's going to happen.”

Explore Health

• Expert Advice

• Health Features

• Mental Health

• Alternative Medicine

• Child Health

• Health Club