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| British volunteer medic loses arm and leg in Ukraine strike | |
| (7 days later) | |
| Eddy, who has been in Ukraine for more than two years as a volunteer medic, lost his arm and leg in the 30 January strike | Eddy, who has been in Ukraine for more than two years as a volunteer medic, lost his arm and leg in the 30 January strike |
| A British medic who lost his leg and arm in a suspected drone attack while volunteering in Ukraine has told the BBC he feels "lucky" despite his injuries. | A British medic who lost his leg and arm in a suspected drone attack while volunteering in Ukraine has told the BBC he feels "lucky" despite his injuries. |
| Eddy was part of a team evacuating people from the front-line town of Pokrovsk when his van - which was clearly marked as an evacuation vehicle - came under attack while he was at the wheel. | Eddy was part of a team evacuating people from the front-line town of Pokrovsk when his van - which was clearly marked as an evacuation vehicle - came under attack while he was at the wheel. |
| The 28-year-old said he could "remember everything" about the strike on 30 January, including three bright flashes around the van and realising his leg had been "shredded". | The 28-year-old said he could "remember everything" about the strike on 30 January, including three bright flashes around the van and realising his leg had been "shredded". |
| Speaking to the BBC, he said: "My first thought was, I need to keep driving, we've been hit." | Speaking to the BBC, he said: "My first thought was, I need to keep driving, we've been hit." |
| Eddy - whose surname the BBC is not reporting - said: "I hit the gas, the car wasn't going anywhere. | Eddy - whose surname the BBC is not reporting - said: "I hit the gas, the car wasn't going anywhere. |
| "I tried to put it in gear, my left leg wasn't responding. I tried turning the wheel and I could feel my shoulder turning but I couldn't see my arm turning on the wheel. | "I tried to put it in gear, my left leg wasn't responding. I tried turning the wheel and I could feel my shoulder turning but I couldn't see my arm turning on the wheel. |
| "At that point I realised it was really bad." | "At that point I realised it was really bad." |
| Eddy said he was grateful for the support he has received from friends, family and peers since the strike and has not become disgruntled or pessimistic despite losing two limbs. | Eddy said he was grateful for the support he has received from friends, family and peers since the strike and has not become disgruntled or pessimistic despite losing two limbs. |
| He added: "I'm positive to be honest. I've got an amazing support network around me. It's my left arm, my left leg - I'm right-handed." | He added: "I'm positive to be honest. I've got an amazing support network around me. It's my left arm, my left leg - I'm right-handed." |
| Asked whether he has any regrets, Eddy replied: "Nothing." He continued: "I've got family here, I've got a goddaughter. | Asked whether he has any regrets, Eddy replied: "Nothing." He continued: "I've got family here, I've got a goddaughter. |
| "I have a life here and if that means it costs me an arm and a leg to have that life, it is what it is." | "I have a life here and if that means it costs me an arm and a leg to have that life, it is what it is." |
| He said his family have struggled to understand why he chose to volunteer in Ukraine but said his father is due to travel to the country next week to visit him. | He said his family have struggled to understand why he chose to volunteer in Ukraine but said his father is due to travel to the country next week to visit him. |
| Efforts are under way to evacuate people from Pokrovsk as Russian troops continue to close in | Efforts are under way to evacuate people from Pokrovsk as Russian troops continue to close in |
| Eddy, who is originally from Dorset, has been in Ukraine for two and a half years, having previously worked as a sailor on superyachts. | Eddy, who is originally from Dorset, has been in Ukraine for two and a half years, having previously worked as a sailor on superyachts. |
| He originally planned to deploy with others from overseas who have supported Ukraine's defence against the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022. | He originally planned to deploy with others from overseas who have supported Ukraine's defence against the full-scale invasion launched by Russia in February 2022. |
| However, once the brutality of the war became clear, Eddy reconsidered his options and in October 2022 he drove to Ukraine and joined volunteer efforts to support Kyiv as a combat medic. | However, once the brutality of the war became clear, Eddy reconsidered his options and in October 2022 he drove to Ukraine and joined volunteer efforts to support Kyiv as a combat medic. |
| When he was injured, Eddy was working with the aid group Base UA, whose field coordinator he credits with saving his life. | When he was injured, Eddy was working with the aid group Base UA, whose field coordinator he credits with saving his life. |
| In a post on Instagram, the charity accused Russia of shelling humanitarian and civilian organisations in Pokrovsk every day. | In a post on Instagram, the charity accused Russia of shelling humanitarian and civilian organisations in Pokrovsk every day. |
| Over the last year, Russian forces have gradually expanded the amount of territory they control in eastern Ukraine. | Over the last year, Russian forces have gradually expanded the amount of territory they control in eastern Ukraine. |
| While Ukraine mounted a surprise counter-offensive into Russian territory last summer, its troops have struggle to contain advances in the east. | While Ukraine mounted a surprise counter-offensive into Russian territory last summer, its troops have struggle to contain advances in the east. |
| Russian troops have continued to inch toward Pokrovsk, a mining town which lies around 60km (37 miles) north-west of the regional capital Donetsk, and have targeted major highways and supply routes during their advance. | Russian troops have continued to inch toward Pokrovsk, a mining town which lies around 60km (37 miles) north-west of the regional capital Donetsk, and have targeted major highways and supply routes during their advance. |
| The settlement is considered a strategically important location for both armies. Before the war, Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad had a combined pre-war population of around 100,000 but most have now fled. | The settlement is considered a strategically important location for both armies. Before the war, Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad had a combined pre-war population of around 100,000 but most have now fled. |