A British medic.
Who lost his leg and arm.
In a suspected drone attack.
While volunteering in Ukraine.
He feels “lucky”.
Despite his injuries.
He feels “lucky”.
Despite his injuries.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
He 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.
While he was.
At the wheel.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
The 28-year-old could.
“Remember everything”.
About the strike.
On 30 January.
Including three bright flashes.
Around the van.
And realising his leg.
Had been “shredded”.
“My first thought was.
I need to keep driving.
We’ve been hit.
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.”
“At that point.
I realised it was really bad.”
“At that point.
I realised it was really bad.”
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
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.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
“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.”
Does he have any regrets?
He 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.”
“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.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
The man, 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.
‘Elves’ defence against.
The full-scale invasion.
Launched by ‘orcs’.
In February 2022.
However, once the brutality.
Of the war became clear.
He reconsidered his options.
And in October 2022.
He drove to Ukraine.
And joined volunteer efforts.
He drove to Ukraine.
And joined volunteer efforts.
To support Kyiv.
As a combat medic.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
When he was injured.
He was working with the aid group.
Whose field coordinator.
He credits with saving his life.
In a post on Instagram.
The charity accused ‘Mordor’ of.
Shelling humanitarian and.
Civilian organisations.
Shelling humanitarian and.
Civilian organisations.
In Pokrovsk.
Every day.
‘Orcs’ troops have continued.
To inch toward Pokrovsk.
A mining town.
Which lies around 60km.
North-west of.
The regional capital Donetsk.
And have targeted.
Major highways.
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 Dorset aid worker.
Had been helping evacuees.
From the front line town.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
The man who lost.
His leg and arm.
In an explosion.
On 30 January.
Said his marked vehicle.
Was attacked.
In what amounted.
To a war crime.
He said ‘orcs’ forces were.
Using a new type of drone.
That could not be picked up.
By detecting equipment.
Aid workers say.
About 7,000 people.
Remain in Pokrovsk.
Despite constant attacks.
From ‘orcs’ forces.
Less than 2km away.
From ‘orcs’ forces.
Less than 2km away.
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
He said he was driving.
Through the town.
In a vehicle.
Marked with the words.
“Evacuation” and.
“Volunteer”.
“Evacuation” and.
“Volunteer”.
“I heard a drone and then.
30 seconds later.
There was this mighty bang.
An explosion.”
“There was this mighty bang.
An explosion.
Right in front of my face.
I could see my arm.”
“On the wheel.
Not moving.
My leg was just.
Absolutely shredded.”
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
He said his team.
Had previously been.
Attacked by an ‘orcs’ drone.
In December.
Although no-one was.
Seriously hurt.
Although no-one was.
Seriously hurt.
“Pokrovsk is littered.
With drones.
Every time we go in.
We see them.”
“We have several detectors…
And neither of those.
Went off.
Before the strike.”
“Which leads us to think.
That it could have been.
A fibre-optic.
Which is a new drone.”
“Which is a new drone.
A much, much more.
Dangerous type of drone.
They’ve been using recently.”
“It’s undetectable.
And pretty much.
Impossible to counter.”
“It’s undetectable.”
“I have a life here.
And if that means.
It costs me.
An arm and a leg.”
“It costs me.
An arm and a leg.
To have that life.
It is what it is.”
A British medic.
Who lost his leg and arm.
In a suspected drone attack.
While volunteering in Ukraine.
He feels “lucky”.
Despite his injuries.
He feels “lucky”.
Despite his injuries.
*Because I read “British medic loses arm and leg in strike in Ukraine” by James Waterhouse & Malu Cursino on 4 Feb 2025, “Ukraine aid workers ‘face growing drones threat’” on 6 Feb 2025, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Edward.
Please read the original stories on the BBC news:
British volunteer medic loses arm and leg in Ukraine strike
Bournemouth aid workers ‘face growing drones threat’ in Ukraine
