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| Kent war artist Graeme Lothian shot by Taliban sniper | Kent war artist Graeme Lothian shot by Taliban sniper |
| (7 days later) | |
| A former paratrooper working in Afghanistan as a war artist has been shot by a Taliban sniper. | A former paratrooper working in Afghanistan as a war artist has been shot by a Taliban sniper. |
| Graeme Lothian, from Tunbridge Wells, was flown back to the UK on Wednesday. | |
| The 53-year old is being treated at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital where his condition is stable. | The 53-year old is being treated at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital where his condition is stable. |
| Mr Lothian went on tour in Afghanistan as one of the Armed Forces' official war artists on 6 June. His partner Sameena Shakoor said she hoped he would be able to return home next week. | |
| Dr Shakoor said she first heard the news on Sunday afternoon. | Dr Shakoor said she first heard the news on Sunday afternoon. |
| She said when she spoke to him on the phone, he had not been able to explain what had happened and passed her over to a colonel, who said he had suffered a fragmentation injury. | |
| 'Smashed bones' | 'Smashed bones' |
| "When I asked him to explain what it was he said he couldn't say on open airwaves what it meant," Dr Shakoor said. | "When I asked him to explain what it was he said he couldn't say on open airwaves what it meant," Dr Shakoor said. |
| "But I looked it up online and it usually means some sort of blast injury, either from a grenade or an IED [improvised explosive device]. | "But I looked it up online and it usually means some sort of blast injury, either from a grenade or an IED [improvised explosive device]. |
| "He told me it affected the left arm and that really worried me because that's his functioning arm - his painting arm." | "He told me it affected the left arm and that really worried me because that's his functioning arm - his painting arm." |
| Dr Shakoor said her partner had undergone three operations so far, including a nerve graft and having a plate put in his wrist. | |
| "A lot of hand bones have been smashed because he was shot by a sniper in his left forearm," she said | "A lot of hand bones have been smashed because he was shot by a sniper in his left forearm," she said |
| "I don't know whether he's going to be able to move his hand in a functional way, let alone to be able to do fine art. | "I don't know whether he's going to be able to move his hand in a functional way, let alone to be able to do fine art. |
| "He's singing the praises of all the medical staff, the nursing staff, the ancillary staff," she added. | "He's singing the praises of all the medical staff, the nursing staff, the ancillary staff," she added. |
| "I'm reassured he's in the best possible place he could be." | "I'm reassured he's in the best possible place he could be." |
| Mr Lothian has painted in places including Jordan, Syria, Oman, India and Australasia. | Mr Lothian has painted in places including Jordan, Syria, Oman, India and Australasia. |
| He works part time as a postman to supplement his income from art. | He works part time as a postman to supplement his income from art. |