Wounded soldier hailed a hero

Widnes-born former Parachute Regiment Captain Martin Hewitt, left paralysed in the right arm after being shot, is striving to achieve an ambitious goal.

The 34-year-old has vowed to lead the first disabled team in history to summit the highest mountain on each of the seven continents and walk unsupported to the north and south pole.

He has already conquered two of the mountains and the north pole, abandoned Everest due to an avalanche and is determined to achieve his target.

Halton Mayor Cllr Shaun Osborne said: “He is a real hero.

“He is proving there is life after disability and is alleviating and improving life after injury for ex soldiers.

“He is so unassuming and humble, he is absolutely amazing.”

Martin’s parents, Leslie and Jenny live in Widnes.

He attended Fairfield High School with his sister, Emma and twin brothers Philip and Peter.

Martin was shot in the shoulder while he was leading an assault on insurgents in Afghanistan in 2007.

He underwent two emergency operations to save his life after a bullet severed nerves in his arm.

He says his military training has helped him to survive.

Martin said: “The mental challenge is the most difficult thing, trying to battle the demons.

“I get my drive from being surrounded by people with greater injury than myself.

“Having an experience like this destroys you or makes you stronger.

“I lost a career I spent my entire academic background aiming for.

“To go from a situation of being in command of a large number of people to having it all taken away from you was an enormous mental blow.

“Creating a new life is the harder option. This charity gives me job satisfaction and self worth.”

In training, he completed six marathons in six days across the Sahara Desert last year.

This year, he plans to scale Mount Elbrus in Europe in June, get married in August and climb Mount Aconcagua in South America in November.

Companies wishing to sponsor his team can contact him at fierileadership.com.