Blown apart in Helmand, arm sewn into his stomach… meet the hero of the Paralympics

A HERO soldier “torn to pieces” by a bomb blast in Afghanistan is set to become the face of the Paralympics.

Lance Corporal JJ Chalmers was left fighting for his life after the explosion in 2011 which claimed the lives of two soldiers and left nine others maimed or traumatised.

The 28-year-old suffered injuries to his arms and legs, lost two fingers and was left with scars on his face and chest, where one arm was temporarily grafted to his body.

The Royal Marine, who spent eight weeks in hospital, admitted that for five years after the blast, he struggled to cope with his disabilities and felt “lost”.

But today he is enjoying a double celebration — after his wife gave birth to daughter Hayley and he landed a job as a host for Channel 4’s Paralympics coverage. JJ told how he is determined to “live every moment” of his new life for his fallen colleagues.

He told The Sun on Sunday: “It’s surreal to think five years ago, I had a plan of what my life would look like, and it was Afghanistan and the Marines.

“That was what I lived for. And then it was all gone in the blink of an eye.

“I went from the most independent guy in the world to nothing. My body was wrecked and I was just a head in a hospital bed.

“My hands were smashed up, my arm was sewn into my stomach and I felt like I’d never walk again. I couldn’t imagine going home.

“When I finally did, I had no idea how to live or what I could do that I’d care about as much as the Marines, which was everything to me.

I survived but we lost two amazing guys

“It’s only when I look back that I realise how lost I was.

“But watching the Paralympics 2012 opened up an entire world that I never knew existed.

“I had more in common with those incredible guys than the Olympians — and this year, I’ll be one of the people introducing them to the world.

“It’s an amazing opportunity and I’m so grateful.

“But I’ll never forget there were others who never got the chance to become TV presenters or Paralympians. “I live every moment of my life for them.”

JJ — short for John James — from Dunfermline, Fife, was part of a 12-strong group that was dropped by helicopter into Helmand province in May 2011.

Within just four days, Marine Sam Alexander MC and Lt Ollie Augustin had been killed, and their remaining colleagues had all been maimed or severely traumatised.

Sergeant Alexander Blackman, who took a last photo of the group before the mission, would later go on to commit a murder that saw him imprisoned for life.

JJ said: “We all went into Afghanistan knowing that one in eight of us would probably be injured or killed.

“For some of the troops out there, nothing would happen. But we really fitted into that statistic.

“I can never leave what happened on that day behind. It is the single most bittersweet thing in my life, because I survived — but we lost two amazing guys.

“That will stick with me forever. My daughter Hayley’s middle name is Olivia in honour of Ollie (Augustin). I will never put what happened behind me, but I’m not going to let it define me either.

It’s only when I look back that I realise how lost I was

“There are things in this world to be miserable about but there’s a lot to be damn happy about — and that, to me, is what the Paralympics is all about.

“It’s about saying: ‘I won’t allow the c**p part of this to define me. I’m going to use it to make me stronger and I’m going to become a champion’.”

JJ moved into TV presenting in 2014, when he was recruited by Prince Harry to help him promote The Invictus Games with a series of interviews.

And the Scot — who went on to win a gold medal in the men’s recumbent circuit race — quickly became hooked on broadcasting.

But his big break came earlier this year after he persuaded Channel 4 bosses to give him a chance, and they cast him as a host for the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics.

JJ said: “I told Channel 4 I would love to be part of this, but I didn’t expect a presenting job.

“I think my enthusiasm came across though, and they decided to take a punt.

“And it has been the biggest eye-opener.

“I’ll never change what happened to me but my life now is about the silver lining.

I’m not going to take anything for granted

“And the best thing is the people I get to be around now, who I would have never met if I hadn’t been blown up, and who I’m honoured to call friends.

“I had a similar life before to Dave Henson, who lost both his legs in Afghanistan.

“We probably walked past each other out there, but we would never have met if we hadn’t been injured.

“I wouldn’t be doing this, and he wouldn’t be competing for a medal in the 100m and 200m sprints at the Paralympics. If you love watching the 100m, try watching someone do it with no legs.”

And while JJ did not consider becoming a Paralympian himself, he is incredibly proud to be championing the team.

He said: “Sport will always be a part of my life and I know that I have the drive and determination to be an athlete. But honestly, I don’t think I’ve got the talent. My talent is talking and I believe in playing to your strengths.

“Someone has to champion these guys and if I can string two sentences together, then let that person be me.”

He continues: “Who knows what I’d be doing now if I hadn’t been injured in Afghanistan? Whatever it was, it would certainly be very different.

There’s an awful lot in this world to be damn happy about

“But something like that gives you a kick up the a**e to go, ‘I’m not going to take anything for granted’.

My disability is not who I am but I’m not going to ignore it because it’s made me who I am.

“It’s made me a stronger person, because I have a better understanding of the world and it’s given me this opportunity.

“So I’m going to make sure I use it to build myself up, and don’t let it drag me down.

“I count myself incredibly lucky that in spite of everything, I came home basically the same bloke that I was when I left.”

Last year JJ married wife Kornelia, who he met before he was wounded.

He said: “I have an unbelievably supportive wife, who has put her life on hold to let me pursue my dream— and a beautiful daughter.

“I’m hoping that what I do now will make her proud for the rest of her life.

“And maybe when the next Paralympics come around in 2020, she’ll be able to look at the TV and say,

‘Wow, look, there’s Dad’.”