TA soldier lost arm in explosion

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A Territorial Army (TA) soldier injured in an explosion during a training exercise has lost his arm, it has emerged.

Glen Edwards, from Bagillt, Flintshire, is "critical but stable" after the incident near Brecon, Powys.

His uncle, Terry Renshaw, said Mr Edwards lost his left arm from the elbow, and suffered other injuries.

Mr Renshaw thanked friends, relatives and the Army for supporting Mr Edwards, a "genuinely popular lad".

"This is a genuine case where he's such a well thought of lad in the village and within the TA," said Mr Renshaw.

Glen is the key to everything, because the Army can not speculate on what happened Terry Renshaw, uncle

"There is genuine concern for him and that's helping us get through this. The phone and the door bell haven't stopped ringing."

Mr Renshaw, a Flint town councillor, said his nephew was preparing for a training exercise at Sennybridge when he was injured in the blast.

He said: "We know for certain his left arm has gone from the elbow joint. He's obviously got other damage but we don't know the extent of it.

"The hospital are being very cautious in what they say, and that's understandable.

"They keep him in an induced coma when they have to operate and then reduce the amount of sedative so he comes round a little bit.

Deployment postponed

"My sister and my niece have seen him and we know he's aware people are in the room with him, although he's not able to communicate because he's had a tracheotomy."

He added: "Glen is the key to everything, because the Army cannot speculate on what happened.

"What we know is that he was out early last Wednesday morning preparing the training site.

"But we don't know exactly what happened. The Army say they need to speak to Glen to see exactly what happened."

Mr Renshaw said Mr Edwards and his unit, the TA Regiment of Wales, had been due to go to Afghanistan on 15 June, but their deployment was postponed.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said the incident is under investigation and thoughts went to the soldier's family.

He is being treated at Morriston Hospital in Swansea.