Graham Hill – the consultant orthopaedic surgeon at Camp Bastion's field hospital – was in charge of treating Sgt Harmer's leg injuries after a bomb blast.

Gosport-based Sgt Harmer, 33, had both of his legs amputated after treading on an improvised bomb in the Babaji area of Helmand Province, as reported in The News yesterday.

When he was flown to Bastion on October 26, the navy's Surgeon Commander Hill was part of the team that saved his life.

Sgn Cdr Hill – who is serving in Helmand Province for the fourth time – said there are frequent and more serious injuries than on his last tour.

The 47-year-old, who is normally based at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, is in the middle of an eight-week spell.

The father-of-four told The News: 'I'd say the pace of work is definitely more than I've encountered in previous tours, in terms of the volume and severity of trauma.

'The work is challenging from a surgical and also emotional perspective, since limb amputations caused by improvised explosive devices have become a routine occurrence.'

Sgt Harmer is now being supported by his friends and family as he recovers in Britain.

But his colleagues from 33 Field Hospital are still working at Bastion and across Helmand Province, looking after British, coalition and Afghan casualties, including civilians.

Sgn Cdr Hill said: 'Our troops are very brave boys and my pleasure comes from getting them through the emergency department and seeing them safely back home to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

'The hardest thing for me is when one of our boys arrives at the hospital and you know you can't do anything for him.

'Although valiant attempts will have been made to get him to the hospital, the cold reality is that patient won't survive.' Sgn Cdr Hill keeps in touch with patients, including Mark Ormrod, the Royal Marine who lost two legs and an arm in a Taliban land mine blast in 2007.

He said: 'These guys make the job so worthwhile. Their drive and determination to overcome the consequences of their injuries is incredible.'

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