AN army signaller whose legs were blown off in a bomb explosion in Iraq is leading a military contingent of Paralympic athletes being trained up as potential medallists for the 2012 Games in London.

Sergeant Mick Brennan, 28, was in a coma for 15 days, suffered brain damage and has gone through 40 operations since the attack near Baghdad in November 2004.

Now he is training to become a Paralympic Games rower, combining rehabilitation at the services’ facility for disabled veterans at Headley Court, Surrey, with professional training from experts such as Sir Matthew Pinsent, the four-time Olympic rowing gold medallist.

Brennan is a rising star of a new partnership between the Ministry of Defence and the British Paralympic Association (BPA) designed to encourage injured servicemen to take up disabled sports. In return, the Paralympic movement gains athletes already trained to be fit and highly motivated.

About 10 wounded servicemen are taking part in programmes for sports, including archery and volleyball, as well as rowing, that could lead to Paralympic Games places.

An appeal for a new gym and swimming pool at Headley Court is the first beneficiary of Help for Heroes, a campaign set up to benefit members of the forces wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has already raised £605,000, of which £95,000 has been donated by Sunday Times readers.

Readers can make donations at www.helpforheroes.org.uk . The Royal British Legion, in advance of Remembrance Sunday, has set up a “virtual” Cenotaph on the Second Life website to collect donations from “residents”.

Read Mick Smith's defence blog at www.timesonline.co.uk/micksmith

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