The brave 33-year-old, who survived life-threatening injuries after he stepped on a mine in Afghanistan, posed in his new room at Headley Court rehabilitation centre, Surrey.

The Combat Medical Technician has only been there a week, but he found the spirit to smile and give a Christmas message to an army comrade.

Simon, with Gosport-based 33 Field Hospital, said: 'I want to thank Private Kensal Gayle who helped fix me up when I was in trouble.'

Sgt Harmer, who married his wife, Marisa, in August, left Gosport for Helmand Province in early October and was injured at the end of that month.

Working with a small army unit in the Babaji area, he had been on a foot patrol when he triggered the explosive.

The medical colleagues he had flown out to Afghanistan with gave him emergency care, and then he was flown from Camp Bastion to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham.

He went through several operations and for days he was in a critical condition.

But now he has started his rehabilitation at the defence medical centre and friends have sent more messages of support.

Some of them are taking on a triathlon on January 30 to raise money for Help For Heroes, the charity which has boosted Headley Court by more than £10m.

A page on the social network website Facebook has a massive 1,000 members, all dedicated to keeping his spirits up.

And, as reported in The News, thousands of pounds were raised for Help For Heroes by a charity night at Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, earlier this month.

At that party Sgt Harmer made his first public appearance and vowed to one day run a marathon.

Marie Dicker, of Hastings Avenue, Elson, Gosport, who was at the party, said: 'To meet a man like Simon was a great privilege - he is clearly a very strong character.

'He made a speech during the party and it was incredibly moving with him thanking everyone for coming along.

'He then spoke about his injuries a bit and said he had set himself the target of running the marathon, which was so inspiring.'

To donate to Sgt Harmer's friends' triathlon challenge, visit the website justgiving.com/The-Goodmans.