Soldier who cheated death to return to action wins bravery commendation

Captain Nick Garland, aged 29, of 1st The Queen’s Dragoon Guards, who has taken part in more than 50 brutal battles, almost died three years ago when his patrol base in Afghanistan was attacked with rocket propelled grenades.
Burning shrapnel shards pierced his neck and entered his windpipe, ripping through his thyroid, artery and lung.
He lost six and a half pints of blood and had to be defibrillated on the helicopter before slipped into a month-long coma.
His collapsed artery was repaired with multiple surgeries with blood pumped to his limbs.
Months of rehabilitation followed, with help from his family, who live in Burghclere, and eventually he was deployed with his Regiment on HERRICK 15 as part of an elite reconnaissance troop at the front of operations in Afghanistan.
“I wanted to go back, so I wasn’t nervous but I was a little apprehensive about returning,” he said.
“I don’t have any negative feelings about what happened as I don’t really remember the injury. It was just a bang and lights out for me, but I wanted to get over that first contact that I knew would occur. I knew that would be the big moment for me, but once I had done that it was just normal jogging really.”
During one of the battles of the six month tour, Captain Garland and his troops were providing a cordon on October 31st when they came under heavy fire from four positions.
The insurgents, some just 100 metres away, fired at the soldiers with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars.
Captain Garland reacted immediately, crossing 300 metres of open ground under fire to direct his lead sections into a defensive position to enable the rest of the soldiers to extract from the attack.
Throughout the battle Captain Garland took great risks to ensure no local civilians were caught in the cross-fire.
His citation said his: “selfless actions undoubtedly saved lives.”
“Despite being very seriously injured on a previous deployment to Afghanistan, his gallantry has been unquestionable.
His determination to lead from the front has been inspirational to his peers and subordinates alike.
“He is the epitome of a highly effective, brave and motivated commander,” it said.
For his courage under fire he has been awarded a Mention in Despatches, which is one of the oldest forms of recognition for gallantry within the UK Armed Forces.