0:00:02 > 0:00:09THIS PROGRAMME CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND SCENES WHICH SOME VIEWERS MAY FIND DISTURBING
0:00:09 > 0:00:12The number-one killer of British troops in Afghanistan is IEDs,
0:00:12 > 0:00:17improvised explosive devices or homemade bombs that the Taliban dig into the ground to target troops.
0:00:23 > 0:00:30In 2010, IEDs killed or wounded almost 8,500 coalition troops
0:00:30 > 0:00:32and an estimated 11,000 Afghans.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38In Central Helmand, the job of finding
0:00:38 > 0:00:40and destroying all these bombs
0:00:40 > 0:00:45comes down to The British Counter IED Task Force known as Brimstone.
0:00:51 > 0:00:55For the first time ever, the Ministry of Defence has allowed this work to be filmed.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02From the searchers who go looking for IEDs...
0:01:02 > 0:01:03METAL DETECTOR SQUEALS
0:01:06 > 0:01:10..to the bomb disposal operator whose job it is to make them safe...
0:01:16 > 0:01:22..and also the teams who have to deal with the devastating impact of an IED.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26He had lost his leg quite high above the knee on the left side.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30His right leg had been amputated at a through-knee amputation
0:01:30 > 0:01:32and his left arm had significant injuries.
0:01:32 > 0:01:37He's still in a critical condition and that's largely due to the injuries to his pelvis area.
0:01:37 > 0:01:42This is the story of the people who put their lives on the line every day -
0:01:42 > 0:01:44the people who walk towards the bomb.
0:02:01 > 0:02:05Today, Adam and Brimstone 4-7 have been called into a Taliban area
0:02:05 > 0:02:08where there are thought to be IEDs.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20Adam is nearly halfway through his six-month tour
0:02:20 > 0:02:25of Afghanistan as a bomb disposal operator.
0:02:25 > 0:02:26Right, go on, Tone!
0:02:28 > 0:02:32'They know that they struggle to take us on toe-to-toe.'
0:02:32 > 0:02:34Firing!
0:02:37 > 0:02:39Stay down! Stay down!
0:02:39 > 0:02:43What they have got is a very crude, very simplistic way
0:02:43 > 0:02:49of causing us harm, which is sneaking around and placing explosives in the ground.
0:02:49 > 0:02:50Standby. Firing.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52EXPLOSION
0:02:54 > 0:02:56And they do a good job at it.
0:02:56 > 0:03:00They know where we're likely to go, they know where we can't see.
0:03:00 > 0:03:05They know the ground so much more intimately than we could ever hope to, and it works.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08It does, it slows us down, it breaks our morale,
0:03:08 > 0:03:10you know, it costs us money.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13Firing!
0:03:15 > 0:03:19It achieves all those things at very little cost to them.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Adam has been called out to a wall.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30The Taliban have been using it for cover
0:03:30 > 0:03:32when shooting at a small army base.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35They have just isolated, boss, so they are just starting now.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39The army want to knock it down, but they think the area is booby-trapped.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49This one operation involves units out on the ground and in the air.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53Go, seek, seek, seek.
0:04:01 > 0:04:04The search dog spots something unusual.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- Like a gulley bit where it goes in like that.- Yeah.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10By the entrance of there. She stopped dead, tail went up.
0:04:19 > 0:04:23Until the searchers find something, Adam just has to wait.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30That's the jacket.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40The helmet, plate, one set of trousers.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44To be honest, a lot of the jobs over there are not done in a bomb suit
0:04:44 > 0:04:47cos it's just too hot and, erm, if you get contacted
0:04:47 > 0:04:51when you're on task, then obviously you can't...
0:04:51 > 0:04:53it's difficult to run away in that.
0:04:53 > 0:04:56But you'd never make an approach without a suit in the UK.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Some people wanted to do it since they were kids.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02They'd say, "Yeah, I want to be the bomb disposal guy," you know,
0:05:02 > 0:05:07sat at home crossed-legged on the bed flicking through Guns & Ammo magazine or whatever.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11But they're fairly few and far between, and you talk to a lot of operators
0:05:11 > 0:05:15and they're the ones that by chance have ended up in the right place at the right time.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19And job-wise, it's been fantastic and I've really enjoyed it.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23That's not saying I'm not at all dubious about the job I'm going to do
0:05:23 > 0:05:27but I'm not necessarily losing sleep over it.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29No, I wouldn't say I'm an excessive worrier.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33I'm going to try and not think about the next six months too much
0:05:33 > 0:05:37cos I know the last time he was away, I did worry a lot.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40And as long as I hear from him occasionally.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Last time he was away, how many phone calls did I get?
0:05:44 > 0:05:47- Three?- Get away.- In six months? Something like that.- Get away!
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- It's true.- It's not true. - That IS true.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54- That's a massive exaggeration. - Six, maybe.- Get out!- It's true!
0:05:57 > 0:06:02Are you going to put your phone down and come and say night-night?
0:06:02 > 0:06:05I want to play with my phone.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Go and say night-night to Daddy.
0:06:08 > 0:06:11Night-night, Daddy.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14'I think she has got into the routine of me being away, to be honest.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19'She's moved four times since she has been born already.
0:06:19 > 0:06:24'Yeah, she has had a lot of change in a short life'
0:06:24 > 0:06:27and I've not been around for a lot of it
0:06:27 > 0:06:31and that shows in my relationship with her, definitely.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35Find the corners, then.
0:06:35 > 0:06:39'You know, it cuts me deep sometimes when she doesn't want to be my friend.'
0:06:39 > 0:06:40Is that the corner?
0:06:40 > 0:06:41No.
0:06:43 > 0:06:44'But there'll be other birthday parties.'
0:06:44 > 0:06:48It's not as though I'm missing her 21st or anything.
0:06:50 > 0:06:54At the wall, one of the searchers has made a discovery in the bushes.
0:06:58 > 0:07:00Yeah, he found something.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03Bit of plastic, bit of wire and a little bit further,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06another wire coming out of the mud going into the plastic.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09What have you marked it?
0:07:09 > 0:07:11There's a yellow line where we started sending the dog up
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- and there's a yellow arrow going into it.- Right, OK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19- You see it.- So if that's it there, the yellow arrow is going here, is it?- Yes.
0:07:19 > 0:07:23The searchers' job is finished. Now it's up to Adam.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27I don't see much need in setting myself out
0:07:27 > 0:07:30as though it's Operation Certain Death.
0:07:30 > 0:07:34There is luck involved, but there is luck involved in everything you do.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38I don't blame anyone for preparing themselves or their families
0:07:38 > 0:07:42for the worst-case scenario, writing endless notes.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47"Make sure they have this on sale behind the bar at my funeral," or all that sort of stuff.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50You end up being quite blunt about it.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53But if I went round thinking the next day was going to be my last
0:07:53 > 0:07:55all the time, I wouldn't be able to work.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03METAL DETECTOR SQUEALS
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The wires found by the searcher could lead to a battery
0:08:06 > 0:08:08hidden in the bushes.
0:08:12 > 0:08:17The pressure plate that will trigger the bomb could be anywhere on the path.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27As usual, everything is being watched.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I mean, you can see a couple of them
0:08:36 > 0:08:39keeping an eye out on the roof over there...
0:08:40 > 0:08:43..but the thing is you don't know
0:08:43 > 0:08:46whether it's a local or it could actually be the bomb-maker himself,
0:08:46 > 0:08:50you know, having a look trying to see what the operator is doing.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53You know, so that's why you try not to set patterns.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56Cos that's how operators get targeted.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03Right, I can see where he has confirmed into the battery pack.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06I can see the ground sign coming from it.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29DISTANT GUNFIRE
0:09:37 > 0:09:43That was the Apache just firing a few rounds, giving someone the good news.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Gleaming! Right, Gaz. Finger tipped into the link.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21I can see the ground sign from the link into where the pressure plate probably is.
0:10:21 > 0:10:24See the battery pack down there.
0:10:52 > 0:10:57Adam will try to cut the wire but trigger the cut from a distance.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Right, start getting ready to move.
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Just watch the cables. There shouldn't be an explosion.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15We're just expecting a pop, that's it.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21POP!
0:11:26 > 0:11:30The wire is cut, but it doesn't mean the bomb is now safe.
0:11:31 > 0:11:34The device is placed to target an individual
0:11:34 > 0:11:36and it's based on what they do, where they go,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40what time they go there, what they touch, what they move.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43And as soon as we find a way to counter that,
0:11:43 > 0:11:48they look at it and go, "Let's change that and introduce this into the circuit.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52"Oh, they've developed this now, let's bring out this piece of kit."
0:11:52 > 0:11:54It's a game of cat and mouse and it's ongoing.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57You know, there'll be occasions when they're ahead,
0:11:57 > 0:12:01there'll be occasions when we're ahead, and there will be times when a new device is discovered.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04In a lot of instances, it will involve someone being injured
0:12:04 > 0:12:07before we've established what that is.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Yeah, everything we do is watched closely in order
0:12:10 > 0:12:13that we can be targeted in the future.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23Adam goes back to see what more he needs to do.
0:12:25 > 0:12:29Right, this wire goes right the way across the road.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39The rest of the bomb is buried on the opposite side of the path.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58There is an actual turd down here somewhere.
0:12:58 > 0:13:02Dead bird, human turd.
0:13:02 > 0:13:05How much more detritus can we possibly get down on this device?
0:13:12 > 0:13:16There we go.
0:13:20 > 0:13:22- Right, I'm on t'end of the pressure plate.- Yep.
0:13:26 > 0:13:29- Right, main charge directly beneath.- Yep.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Adam has uncovered the main explosive
0:13:37 > 0:13:39and another wire leading into it.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50- We good to go?- Yeah.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Standby! Firing!
0:13:55 > 0:13:57POP!
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Right, I'm on to the det.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19Right, det's off.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28Get in!
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Oh, I see.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38The bomb is a pressure plate device with 5kg of explosive.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43Parts of the bomb are collected for forensic investigation.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56Some of it can lead back to the source which means that they can't get the supplies in
0:14:56 > 0:15:00if we get rid of that source, which lowers the threat then.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04The less items they can get, the less IEDs they can put in the ground,
0:15:04 > 0:15:06the less of our lads they can kill.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Adam takes a small sample of the explosives.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15And will blow the rest of it up.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23Stand by! Firing!
0:15:33 > 0:15:35That's the carbon rods.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39So there's no metal signature. You can't pick it up on a metal detector.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Carbon rod on the top, carbon rod on the bottom.
0:15:42 > 0:15:45It's when you press on and actually contact.
0:15:45 > 0:15:48And the battery pack. Invariably, round here,
0:15:48 > 0:15:50they're all nine volt PP3s,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53the little badgers that sting your tongue when you lick 'em.
0:15:55 > 0:15:59It's estimated that over 1,000 new IEDs
0:15:59 > 0:16:02are hidden in the ground every month.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06Smile for the camera.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10It's taken a team of 40 nearly four hours to get rid of one device.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16The wall can be safely knocked down.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23Adam and the rest of his team return to their patrol base.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30"Woman, could you please send the following pronto?
0:16:30 > 0:16:34"Coffee bags, beef Monster Munch, and did I mention Mini Eggs?
0:16:34 > 0:16:38"I've been smashing about two bombs a day on average over the last two weeks.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41"I tried to..." You see, this is just my husband...
0:16:41 > 0:16:44"..Tried to call you twice today from the sat phone,
0:16:44 > 0:16:49"but you were probably out with your new boyfriend spending all my money." Charming!
0:16:49 > 0:16:52"I'm in patrol base Nahidullah now. It's the badlands.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55"I hope that Jennifer's party went well
0:16:55 > 0:16:58"and that you cleared up after yourself in the bar."
0:16:58 > 0:17:00The day after he left was Jennifer's birthday party.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03Obviously the usual...
0:17:03 > 0:17:05"Please, please don't spend all my money.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09"Keep the house clean and tidy and get a grip of that animal."
0:17:09 > 0:17:12Being his beautiful daughter.
0:17:12 > 0:17:17So...lots and lots of love, my delightful husband.
0:17:17 > 0:17:19Isn't he charming?
0:17:21 > 0:17:23The Counter-IED Task Force
0:17:23 > 0:17:27has teams spread throughout Central Helmand Province.
0:17:27 > 0:17:31Adam's team, Brimstone 4-7, is based with
0:17:31 > 0:17:33Two Scots Battlegroup in Nahidullah.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37The base is right in the middle of a Taliban area
0:17:37 > 0:17:40known to be riddled with IEDs.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49Adam's been living here for three months on rations,
0:17:49 > 0:17:51but a cookhouse has just been opened.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00I suppose if we were a big unit and I was the engineer lieutenant
0:18:00 > 0:18:03troop commander or summat, I could turn round and say,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06"Nah! I've got plenty of guys to do pan bashing." We haven't.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09We're a five-man team and I'm not really entitled to turn round
0:18:09 > 0:18:12and say, "Nah, you do the pan bashing."
0:18:12 > 0:18:14I eat the same as they do. We all live together.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17There is no-one else to do it, so we crack on and do it.
0:18:17 > 0:18:22And why I end up doing the scraping every Sunday, I don't know.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25Living alongside Adam is second-in-command Tony,
0:18:25 > 0:18:28dog-handler Tony, Rod the Navy escort
0:18:28 > 0:18:33and Gaz the electronic warfare specialist.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36I tend to make things to make my life easier.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39Kind of get whatever I can and just build it.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42So I built a massive shelving unit.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Pens! It's not bad.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47But this is like... this is the best bit.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Teesha doesn't send me that many pictures out, so the pictures I've got...
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Yeah, they kind of mean a lot.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- Have you shown them your mouse tally?- It's up there.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00Chuff chart.
0:19:00 > 0:19:04It's how many mice I've killed since I've been here.
0:19:04 > 0:19:05And two of them with my bare hands.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07LAUGHTER
0:19:07 > 0:19:11We was in a compound and with our little tents,
0:19:11 > 0:19:13it's got a zip at the bottom and I thought,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16"No, no that'll be fine, nothing will get in there."
0:19:16 > 0:19:20Got in my tent, done the zip up and thought, "Fuck, there's a mouse in my tent!"
0:19:20 > 0:19:23And it was just running round. So I managed to grab it,
0:19:23 > 0:19:28squeezed it until it kind of made a squeak and then bumpf!
0:19:28 > 0:19:30Kind of chose the wrong tent to come in, to be honest.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35As they wait for a new job to come in,
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Adam deals with parts of the bomb they found at the wall.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41I've got the det from yesterday to photograph.
0:19:43 > 0:19:49So that's me little tin that I keep the dets in.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53Because they're put together in someone's workshop as opposed
0:19:53 > 0:19:57to a manufacturing process, they are notoriously frisky.
0:19:57 > 0:20:00You know, if I were to bite that it would blow my jaw off, which is
0:20:00 > 0:20:02why we don't hand them into the forensic chain.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06What we'll do is I'll photograph that, get as much detail off it as I can,
0:20:06 > 0:20:09put that on my report and then that will get destroyed.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14I should ring home, actually.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19When was the last time you spoke?
0:20:23 > 0:20:28Couple of days ago... All right, maybe a week.
0:20:28 > 0:20:30Erm... The thing is I'm 29-years-old
0:20:30 > 0:20:35and my family are well aware of what I do and as long as I ring home
0:20:35 > 0:20:38once a week and say, "Yeah, I'm fine," then they understand that.
0:20:38 > 0:20:41So I sort of do my honourable officer bit
0:20:41 > 0:20:46and give the lads time on the phone. Yeah.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49But I phoned home a shit load more than I did last tour, anyway.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52I'll put the timer on.
0:20:52 > 0:20:55Have you put it on so it goes bleep-bleep?
0:20:55 > 0:20:58Once or twice, she has got a bit upset and told me
0:20:58 > 0:21:00she misses her daddy and things like that.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03But she doesn't really talk about him that much.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06Go and get the crackers. Have you forgotten them?
0:21:06 > 0:21:10When he phoned last night, she didn't want to speak to him
0:21:10 > 0:21:13cos she was having fun with her grandad at the time.
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Whenever any time she mentions him, everything stops
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and we have a wee conversation about Daddy, you know.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23She has linked onto that. When she is being naughty,
0:21:23 > 0:21:27she tells me about her daddy so I stop telling her off and start...
0:21:27 > 0:21:29I've caught on to that as well!
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Adam needs to leave the base to destroy some ammunition
0:21:39 > 0:21:41and the detonator from yesterday's bomb.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48The searchers will lead him to a safe spot.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52They only have seven weeks of specialist training
0:21:52 > 0:21:55before coming to Afghanistan.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59Got pulled into the office and told I was doing it.
0:21:59 > 0:22:02Wasn't me putting my hand up and asking.
0:22:02 > 0:22:04It was just, "You're doing this."
0:22:04 > 0:22:10Not, "Do you want to do it?" or anything like you expect,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14but just, "You are doing this, have fun."
0:22:14 > 0:22:18To be honest, I shit myself, cos I mean, if you don't, you're just mental.
0:22:18 > 0:22:21I mean, out there looking for something that's going to kill ya.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24It's not an ideal job, but it is a job that has to be done.
0:22:29 > 0:22:35Five bomb disposal operators have been killed by IEDs in the last two years.
0:22:35 > 0:22:38But it's the searchers who have been hit the hardest.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41In the last three months alone, two soldiers from search teams
0:22:41 > 0:22:45have been killed and another five have become amputees.
0:22:47 > 0:22:51Stringer, a nice straight line from here to the corner of that wall there.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56OK, spray your left-hand side so we know where you've been to.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58Today, Stringer is lead searcher.
0:22:58 > 0:23:03Finding and marking the safe route for the others to follow.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Anywhere you search, you've got to think in your mind,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16"OK, is that searched enough that I'd stand on it?"
0:23:16 > 0:23:21Cos it's not them people behind me, cos if you'd stand on it, then you are happy for them to.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24If I'm uncertain about a bit of ground what I'd do is
0:23:24 > 0:23:27put my foot onto it first and then go across it cos that way, you know
0:23:27 > 0:23:32if I have got it wrong, then I'm not leaving for someone else to tread on it.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37Like I told my Mrs, like, I worry obviously cos she is at home with two kids.
0:23:37 > 0:23:40It's obviously worrying, but when you are sitting there,
0:23:40 > 0:23:43laying in your pit and can't get to sleep and that,
0:23:43 > 0:23:47you think back to home and that, and it gets you through, really.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54Midway through the tour is about the time people start getting complacent
0:23:54 > 0:23:56and saying, "Oh, that'll never happen."
0:23:56 > 0:24:00It's always about that time that something does happen.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04So you just have to check yourselves and say, "Let's stay with it."
0:24:04 > 0:24:09We are too far into the tour now to be taking unnecessary risks.
0:24:09 > 0:24:11That'll do there, Stringer.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17Stringer has cleared a safe path for Adam.
0:24:17 > 0:24:21As well as the detonator, Adam is also going to blow up
0:24:21 > 0:24:26a rocket propelled grenade or RPG that's been seized from the Taliban.
0:24:30 > 0:24:35Cos an RPG is a shaped charge that's pointing downwards into the earth
0:24:35 > 0:24:38into a bank cos you get slug throw so the copper shaped charge
0:24:38 > 0:24:41can travel up to 900 metres on its own
0:24:41 > 0:24:46and then any other bits we need to dispose of go as close as possible.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49See, I reckon these kids know what we're doing
0:24:49 > 0:24:54cos they're just sat in a field, ready to watch the explosion. It's like fireworks for them!
0:24:54 > 0:24:56They know what the script is, they know what will happen.
0:24:56 > 0:25:00And if they don't then we'll fire a mini flare. Not at them...
0:25:00 > 0:25:02just, you know, up in the air.
0:25:02 > 0:25:06Last thing I need is a local national kid with a bit of bloody RPG stuck in his head.
0:25:06 > 0:25:07Oi!
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Get away!
0:25:15 > 0:25:18Right, good, that's them cleared.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Happy days.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It's an RPG, there's a reasonable amount of frag on this,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27so I want everyone tight into the wall. All right?
0:25:31 > 0:25:32Stand by!
0:25:32 > 0:25:33Firing!
0:25:36 > 0:25:40You know, I've been in the army 12 years now
0:25:40 > 0:25:45and I only done this because I was told I wouldn't be able to do it.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47So I made a point of doing it.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50I suppose I just wanted to prove that I'm not as old and fragile
0:25:50 > 0:25:55as some people might think, you know. I'm a driver by trade,
0:25:55 > 0:25:59but I just needed to get out on tour, to be honest,
0:25:59 > 0:26:02and I suppose it gives me a little bit of a buzz, really.
0:26:02 > 0:26:05I'm quite in my element, actually. But yeah, I enjoy it.
0:26:05 > 0:26:10- Where's that come from? - Sh! Ask no questions and I won't tell you any lies, mate.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14Favours for favours, you know. I help the chef out, he helps me out.
0:26:14 > 0:26:20- Oh, cheese and pickle! - There's only two buns, though.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24- I can't remember the last time I had a bit of cheese.- Nor can I.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29- Like a proper bit of cheese. - You know when you hear chicks going on about comfort food?
0:26:29 > 0:26:31A cheese and pickle sandwich and a cup of coffee.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35We've been going on about it for three months. Honestly, ain't we?
0:26:35 > 0:26:41- Three months we've been banging on about cheese and pickle sandwich. - You've been banging on about it.
0:26:41 > 0:26:45- I think you should put that report down and get ready for a taste sensation.- Tidy.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48That's lovely cheese as well.
0:26:48 > 0:26:53That's my badger. God damn, I've missed cheese.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59During the first three months of their tour, the team's biggest job
0:26:59 > 0:27:01was at a place called Compound One.
0:27:01 > 0:27:03Stand by! Firing!
0:27:05 > 0:27:08Compound One sits on a small hill overlooking a major new road
0:27:08 > 0:27:11the army are building through Central Helmand.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14- Ready, boss?- Yeah go for it. - Everyone ready?- Yep.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Stand by! Firing!
0:27:20 > 0:27:27When the army forced the Taliban out, the Taliban left the area seeded with IEDs.
0:27:27 > 0:27:28Firing!
0:27:31 > 0:27:35Over a nine-day period, Adam and the team found and destroyed
0:27:35 > 0:27:3917 devices around this tiny compound.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44During their time there, Oddy, their first search dog,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47stood on an IED and was killed.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51We was talking and then it was just suddenly we was in a cloud of smoke.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54You didn't really realise until you was like that
0:27:54 > 0:27:57and you came back up and it was like, "Fuck, what was that?"
0:27:57 > 0:28:01Then it was just like you could hear duh, duh, duh, things falling down
0:28:01 > 0:28:03and then it was Chris shouting, "Oddy! Oddy!"
0:28:03 > 0:28:06And it was like, "Where the fuck is Oddy?"
0:28:06 > 0:28:10That was it. Everyone was like, "Shit, guess what just happened."
0:28:10 > 0:28:15- The thing me and Rod see from outside was the fact that there was bits coming over.- It wasn't nice.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18You know what I mean? We obviously thought, is that bits of our blokes?
0:28:18 > 0:28:23Or, you know. I know it sounds quite Jack, cos as soon as I heard it was the dog,
0:28:23 > 0:28:25I was like, right, it's just the dog.
0:28:25 > 0:28:30I didn't mean it like, it's JUST the dog, but it wasn't one of our lads.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33That's the way you gotta look at it. That's what they're there for.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37Even though, if Dazz went up, you know, he'd cry like a baby.
0:28:37 > 0:28:39Fact. That is fact.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46The compound has been renamed Check Point Loy Mandeh
0:28:46 > 0:28:49and now the team have to go back again.
0:28:49 > 0:28:53This time, they have been asked to clear an area outside
0:28:53 > 0:28:57the compound to reopen a route for the locals.
0:28:57 > 0:29:02The plan then, everyone knows is a 150 metre route called Route Uranus.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04It's a route that hasn't been searched and a route
0:29:04 > 0:29:09that hasn't been used since before they actually searched this compound.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Can I just confirm that, er... we're going up Uranus tomorrow?
0:29:14 > 0:29:17- Oh, you had to get it in, didn't you?- Can't wait to clear Uranus.
0:29:17 > 0:29:20Yes, we are looking forward to clearing Uranus, so...
0:29:20 > 0:29:23it should be fun, so it should. Thank you for that.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25We said when we left there last time,
0:29:25 > 0:29:28"Thank, God, we'll never have to come back to this place."
0:29:28 > 0:29:30We said that the first time we left, didn't we?
0:29:30 > 0:29:34We have been there about four times now!
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Just keep on finding more IEDs.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39- Riddled.- It is riddled. - Riddled. Horrible place.
0:29:45 > 0:29:47I don't walk down the road to a device going,
0:29:47 > 0:29:51"Must render this device safe for the people of Afghanistan."
0:29:51 > 0:29:55I know that's why we are here, that's the overarching mission.
0:29:55 > 0:29:59But what I do think about is, am I doing the right thing?
0:29:59 > 0:30:01Is it safe?
0:30:01 > 0:30:05And if I was badly injured, then I'd be massively embarrassed
0:30:05 > 0:30:10if it was because of something that I could have done differently.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15If something I could have done differently caused somebody else
0:30:15 > 0:30:18to be injured, I just... That doesn't bear thinking about,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21that's probably worst, worst case.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31- This place is a shit hole. - Have you seen our plaque?
0:30:31 > 0:30:34The plaque's in the corner for the dog.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41While Adam and his team wait inside the compound,
0:30:41 > 0:30:45the searchers will go out onto Route Uranus to find any bombs.
0:30:45 > 0:30:48This is Marty's fifth tour,
0:30:48 > 0:30:51but his first as a search team commander.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55The lads I'm working with, they're searchers.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58And erm, obviously, the days can go quite long,
0:30:58 > 0:31:02so they tend to switch off. And it's my job to keep them back on track.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04It's a dangerous job.
0:31:04 > 0:31:10Obviously, every step that you take could be your last.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Er, they are pretty young guys as well.
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Stringer there, who's 20, just turned 20.
0:31:16 > 0:31:19- The youngest, aren't you? - Yeah, I'm the baby of the group.
0:31:19 > 0:31:22He's the youngest. All my team, it's their first tour.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26All my guys, so it's a pretty hard tour for them to be,
0:31:26 > 0:31:28for their first one.
0:31:28 > 0:31:32Trying to explain that to somebody that doesn't know anything about it,
0:31:32 > 0:31:35they won't understand till they have actually been here.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39Cos I didn't understand it until I actually got here and realised how bad it really was.
0:31:42 > 0:31:48With the search about to begin, the Warthog vehicles move out to try and prevent any Taliban attacks.
0:31:53 > 0:31:57It's Marty's responsibility to make sure the search is carried out correctly.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59Stringer!
0:31:59 > 0:32:02OK, Stringer, the dog showed a little bit of interest.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05It wasn't a lot, mate, but it was just around this area here.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10OK, just slow it down a little bit, wait till Rooke catches up.
0:32:10 > 0:32:16Come to your right, that's it, yeah.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22Searchers are trained to lie down
0:32:22 > 0:32:27when they check beneath the surface rubble for IEDs.
0:32:27 > 0:32:31If a bomb goes off, they may lose an arm.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35If they're crouching, they could lose their arms and legs
0:32:35 > 0:32:38or be killed.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41Rooke, if you are confirming get on your fucking belt buckle!
0:32:41 > 0:32:43It's so tiny, pathetic even going.
0:32:43 > 0:32:49- I don't care. If you are moving that ground then get on your fucking belt buckle!- All right.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53- Oi!- Carry on. - Oi! Fucking come here, arsehole.
0:32:53 > 0:32:56Less of the fucking attitude, dickhead.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58You know your fucking drills! Do them, all right?
0:32:58 > 0:33:01Stop being a fucking knob and risking your own fucking life
0:33:01 > 0:33:05cos you can't be arsed getting on your fucking belt buckle.
0:33:05 > 0:33:07Now fucking do it!
0:33:07 > 0:33:11You can't afford, mate, to fucking lose your head. Yeah?
0:33:11 > 0:33:14At the end of the day, mate, I'm trying to save your life.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17I don't want that going off if there was anything there, all right,
0:33:17 > 0:33:19and taking your head off. All right?
0:33:19 > 0:33:22Oi! Fucking same for the rest of yous.
0:33:22 > 0:33:26On your fucking belt buckle when yous are confirming or even touching any ground on the surface.
0:33:26 > 0:33:29All right. It's not just you.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47All the time they're out searching, the team is vulnerable to attack.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Comms just come over from the ground call saying
0:33:54 > 0:33:59Taliban commanders are getting all of his guys to the sands. Must mean like firing positions.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04Obviously, for the infantry it's a sign that the Taliban
0:34:04 > 0:34:07know we're here, they know what we're doing
0:34:07 > 0:34:10and they're probably not too happy about it.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14GUNFIRE
0:34:14 > 0:34:17There you go, lads.
0:34:20 > 0:34:23That's them back, innit?
0:34:25 > 0:34:27RPG, sounds like.
0:34:29 > 0:34:34Guys, remember we've got four warthogs sitting on the high ground behind that compound.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Anything over there is going to get fucking destroyed.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40And we've got Tiny on the 50 behind us.
0:34:40 > 0:34:44If we stopped every time we had rounds going off,
0:34:44 > 0:34:46we'd never fucking achieve anything.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51With the Taliban held back, a local farmer comes forward.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56There's Ali G coming up.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59Sir... I think he is trying to tell you where an IED is.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08This local's come up to us,
0:35:08 > 0:35:12pointed in this bush and picked up a pressure plate and put it back down.
0:35:12 > 0:35:14Big saw blade pressure plate, was it?
0:35:14 > 0:35:16Fuck me, it was about that big.
0:35:16 > 0:35:21The thing with finds and things, you can get a protected hide
0:35:21 > 0:35:27whereby they'll place a device next to whatever they are trying to squirrel away.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30So it can be quite dangerous when you've got a confirmed hide like that
0:35:30 > 0:35:36If I was to put a hide there, I'd probably put a couple of devices around it.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41The team decide to finish searching
0:35:41 > 0:35:43and marking the road before investigating.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47Yeah, Roger. We've got roughly four metres left to do.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49It takes two and a half hours
0:35:49 > 0:35:52before a 150 metre strip of road is cleared.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56Now Adam can deal with what the farmer was pointing out.
0:35:56 > 0:36:01At this point, we're not sure if there is a main charge there or not yet. Over.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03GUNFIRE
0:36:03 > 0:36:05That was a bit closer, that'll learn yah.
0:36:07 > 0:36:12Only Adam will go down into the bushes.
0:36:12 > 0:36:15As the electronic warfare specialist,
0:36:15 > 0:36:20Gaz will use his ECM to try and block any remote controlled devices that may be in the area.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24- Where about is it from here? - See that big thick bush there?- Yeah.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26Just down there.
0:36:32 > 0:36:38I don't like it, though. Cos obviously, I won't have eyes on.
0:36:38 > 0:36:40Gaz has got eyes on and Rod has got eyes on.
0:36:40 > 0:36:43Plus there is Warthogs out anyhow,
0:36:43 > 0:36:45so we've got enough fire support, if you like.
0:36:45 > 0:36:48Don't stop me worrying, though.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Oh, have it!
0:37:00 > 0:37:03- Gaz!- Boss!
0:37:03 > 0:37:05I've got eyes on the one he's lifted up.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09I can see the pressure plate the local's lifted up. It's here.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- Got another one.- Cool.
0:37:39 > 0:37:44Right, Gaz, I've come onto a sack here with a massive metal reading, all dug in.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46It's all loose round it
0:37:46 > 0:37:50so potentially, it could be bigger than bloody Ben Hur, this.
0:38:00 > 0:38:04In the past, hidden items have been booby-trapped to explode when pulled out.
0:38:04 > 0:38:07That's fine.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12Adam attaches a cord so the bag can be pulled free from a distance.
0:38:12 > 0:38:14Drop yourselves down.
0:38:24 > 0:38:27It's worked a treat.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30The bag contains another pressure plate.
0:38:30 > 0:38:34Altogether, Adam's found three hidden away.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38They'll be sent for forensic examination to try and work out
0:38:38 > 0:38:43who has been making all the devices found here.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46The path can now be opened for the locals.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50There's been a couple of occasions where they've gone, "Thanks for that,
0:38:50 > 0:38:54"thanks for getting rid of the mine, we can use our field again,"
0:38:54 > 0:38:58or, "We can use that road again." How sincere they are about it, I don't know.
0:38:58 > 0:39:04Taff, do us a favour. Go and grab the tagiman. These lads want the tagiman for some reason.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06They normally want a chit or something,
0:39:06 > 0:39:09so they can go to a claims clinic and get money.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13"We want compensation for where you have put your ICP in our field."
0:39:13 > 0:39:15Come back later!
0:39:15 > 0:39:19- Are they a boy band? - Yeah, I think they are a boy band.
0:39:19 > 0:39:22All right, I tell you what, we won't put an ICP in your field
0:39:22 > 0:39:25and you can have the IED in your field instead, your call!
0:39:25 > 0:39:27Half the roads have got IEDs on 'em,
0:39:27 > 0:39:32so the only way to travel is through people's fields.
0:39:32 > 0:39:35So we actually spend more money on compensation, you know,
0:39:35 > 0:39:39than anything else, like, you know.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57"Woman Face. Still in PB Nahidullah. There's mice everywhere.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00"Gaz, my bleep, puts traps down next to his bed and keeps a tally
0:40:00 > 0:40:04"on how many he's done in. He thinks he's the Pied Piper of Nahidullah.
0:40:04 > 0:40:07"Post is not getting through at the moment.
0:40:07 > 0:40:10"Helicopters can't fly in very often as they get shot at.
0:40:10 > 0:40:13"I noticed that you smashed £60 on fuel.
0:40:13 > 0:40:18"I hope you are not commuting to and from your mother's all the time."
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Yeah, whoops.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23Erm... "I'll write or call when I can. Be clean and tidy!
0:40:23 > 0:40:26"Don't worry about me one bit. I'm all over this.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29"Lots of love, Husband Face."
0:40:29 > 0:40:32I know sometimes, if I go away for a week,
0:40:32 > 0:40:35secretly, she thinks "Actually, great stuff!
0:40:35 > 0:40:38"He's not coming home from work every day and ranting at me about
0:40:38 > 0:40:41"the toys left out in the front room," or things like that.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45But I got a letter the other day saying, actually the novelty has worn off
0:40:45 > 0:40:49which was nice to hear, actually, but I understand it completely.
0:40:49 > 0:40:54Because I know how much of a grumpy git I am, when I come home and I get on at her.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56But I do the same thing with Gaz here.
0:40:56 > 0:41:01And for the same thing! Nine out of ten times, he hasn't done anything wrong either!
0:41:01 > 0:41:06He hasn't been awake five minutes and I chew him out about something.
0:41:06 > 0:41:08I wrote about two letters home, I think.
0:41:08 > 0:41:12One at the beginning, one before Christmas. That's it.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16- Just two?- I phone her enough.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19It's nice just to see "Oh, he wrote this."
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Cos I like it more when my Mrs sends me a letter, hand-written.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26I mean, my blueys home tend to revolve around, you know,
0:41:26 > 0:41:29the mince and triv that's happened around here.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33"I had beef stew for tea last night.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36"Yeah, we're still dumping in a plastic bag, and showering
0:41:36 > 0:41:39"under a bag and sleeping in a bag," and stuff like that.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43That's the other thing about Rachael. I know that even if there is a drama,
0:41:43 > 0:41:46she'll sort it out, rather than bothering me with it.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53I mean, there's everyday things that come up in a household
0:41:53 > 0:41:56that I have to deal with and if he was here, he would do it.
0:41:56 > 0:41:59You know, when the boiler stopped working.
0:41:59 > 0:42:04I didn't mention it to him, I just had it fixed.
0:42:04 > 0:42:09- Oh!- Ohhh, Mum!
0:42:09 > 0:42:11I don't even want him thinking about things like that.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16He's got enough to think about. You know, he needs to know that Jennifer and I are managing fine
0:42:16 > 0:42:22without him, and as sad as that is, we will manage without him.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25We do manage without him.
0:42:25 > 0:42:30You know, if worst came to worst, we would manage without him.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34As much as we don't want to. But that's life.
0:42:36 > 0:42:40That's our life, anyway. Yeah.
0:42:43 > 0:42:47On the 19th January, Adam and the searchers are called back
0:42:47 > 0:42:49to Loy Mandeh once again.
0:42:52 > 0:42:56Two IEDs have been found near the end of Route Uranus.
0:42:56 > 0:42:59At 1pm, just as the searchers begin work,
0:42:59 > 0:43:03Stringer steps onto a third IED.
0:43:03 > 0:43:07He immediately loses both legs.
0:43:11 > 0:43:14Within 25 minutes, he's in hospital at Camp Bastion.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20'Op minimise! Op minimise! Op minimise!'
0:43:20 > 0:43:26The news has already reached the Counter-IED headquarters based at the camp.
0:43:26 > 0:43:29Right, the feedback from the sergeant major at the hospital is that
0:43:29 > 0:43:32he's a double amputee with serious injuries to his arm.
0:43:32 > 0:43:35He has, however, an unidentified bleed somewhere on him,
0:43:35 > 0:43:40so he's gone straight into surgery, so he's currently critical.
0:43:40 > 0:43:43Although Stringer is in hospital, Adam and the rest of the team
0:43:43 > 0:43:45are still out on the ground.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47And they're coming under direct attack.
0:43:47 > 0:43:51Tell the OC of your company to get Ugly up in the sky to provide you with cover.
0:43:51 > 0:43:56They know where the threat side is, cos that's where you are getting fucking shot from.
0:43:56 > 0:44:01I know it's a bit fucking harsh, but just tell your men you need to do this cos that's your job
0:44:01 > 0:44:04and then fucking talk about it after you've finished.
0:44:04 > 0:44:07The search team are going to have to sort of man-up, you know.
0:44:07 > 0:44:10They are soldiers at the end of the day. Same with the IED team.
0:44:10 > 0:44:13They have to get on with the task that they set out to do.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17Unfortunately, it's business as usual, cos business here doesn't stop.
0:44:17 > 0:44:22It comes to a pause for some people. We just crack on as normal.
0:44:24 > 0:44:28It's another three hours before Adam and the team finish working
0:44:28 > 0:44:32on the ground near where Stringer was injured.
0:44:32 > 0:44:34Hello, mate, how are you?
0:44:37 > 0:44:41There are obviously a lot of questions coming up about what happened earlier on.
0:44:41 > 0:44:44Not questions, but people wanting to know what went on.
0:44:46 > 0:44:48OK, so estimated size?
0:44:48 > 0:44:51Bollocks.
0:44:51 > 0:44:56If it had blown his boot 70 metres, it's not 3kg, Adam.
0:44:56 > 0:44:58Right, fair enough, OK.
0:44:58 > 0:45:02No, if you were next to him, mate... I didn't realise.
0:45:02 > 0:45:06It just seems a long way for his foot and his boot to have been thrown.
0:45:06 > 0:45:11All right, mate, go and chill for a bit, ok?
0:45:11 > 0:45:14Pass on our best wishes to the lads and that, yeah.
0:45:14 > 0:45:17And we'll see you tomorrow.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22By the time Adam and the team return to Camp Bastion, Alex Stringer
0:45:22 > 0:45:26has been flown back to the UK.
0:45:32 > 0:45:35We just got into the ICP
0:45:35 > 0:45:38and it just went a bit tits-up from there, really.
0:45:40 > 0:45:44It was just fucking...an explosion and it was just kind of waking up
0:45:44 > 0:45:48on the ground with my hands over my ears thinking,
0:45:48 > 0:45:50"What the fuck was that?"
0:45:52 > 0:45:55Yeah, I had a moment straight after when I opened my eyes
0:45:55 > 0:45:58and saw the edge of the seat of the explosion
0:45:58 > 0:46:00two feet in front of my face.
0:46:00 > 0:46:06And I looked down and I just couldn't comprehend that it wasn't me.
0:46:06 > 0:46:09I was like, there is no way I'm still...
0:46:09 > 0:46:11There was not a scratch on me.
0:46:11 > 0:46:15And then I looked up and I saw Alex.
0:46:15 > 0:46:19It was a bit surreal at first, you know,
0:46:19 > 0:46:23finding it something out of a movie.
0:46:23 > 0:46:28Private Tidmus was already on top of Stringer giving him first aid
0:46:28 > 0:46:31and then all of a sudden, there was a lot of hissing
0:46:31 > 0:46:36and then the ECM just burst into a ball of flames on his back.
0:46:36 > 0:46:39It just pushed it over the edge, really.
0:46:39 > 0:46:45You know, a casualty anyway is bad, but when your casualties on fire
0:46:45 > 0:46:49and then you're being shot at and there's RPGs coming in.
0:46:49 > 0:46:52There's not much more that could have gone wrong.
0:46:52 > 0:46:55None of the boys expected anything like that.
0:46:59 > 0:47:01Especially knowing that he's just lost two limbs.
0:47:01 > 0:47:03It was just really bad.
0:47:03 > 0:47:06The guys tried to get water on him.
0:47:06 > 0:47:08I tried rolling him and all sorts.
0:47:08 > 0:47:14The flames eventually went out. Even before the flames went out
0:47:14 > 0:47:16I was back on his legs, like, you know.
0:47:16 > 0:47:19Basically, from there we put him on a stretcher and casevac-ed him
0:47:19 > 0:47:23over towards where the heli was. But he started to come round.
0:47:23 > 0:47:25That's where my part came into it.
0:47:25 > 0:47:29Just keep chatting to him. He wanted to know what's he lost.
0:47:29 > 0:47:32You know, "Tell me the truth, I want to know."
0:47:32 > 0:47:35Obviously, I didn't tell him anything more,
0:47:35 > 0:47:38so just concentrate on your daughters back home and, you know
0:47:38 > 0:47:42your family back home and that.
0:47:42 > 0:47:46It just felt like forever. It was one of the longest days of my life. It really was.
0:47:49 > 0:47:53He's alive, and that's the main thing.
0:47:53 > 0:47:58Hopefully, his left arm's saved and you know, he's got both of his arms.
0:47:58 > 0:48:01And unfortunately, he won't have both his legs.
0:48:01 > 0:48:08But you know, it is what it is. You know. He's only a young lad as well.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11He's got two young kids, a young Mrs,
0:48:11 > 0:48:14and it's just unfortunate that these things happen.
0:48:14 > 0:48:16Hopefully, he'll be all right.
0:48:16 > 0:48:20Really strong boy, he is. And to survive something like that as well.
0:48:20 > 0:48:23He's really strong.
0:48:23 > 0:48:26Even when he wakes up, Stringer being Stringer, he'll get up
0:48:26 > 0:48:30and you know, brush himself down and that.
0:48:30 > 0:48:34I think he's that kind of person. He'll crack on with life.
0:48:34 > 0:48:37Nothing will hold him back.
0:48:37 > 0:48:42Within days, a replacement joins the team
0:48:42 > 0:48:45and they return to duty to see out the rest of their tour.
0:48:46 > 0:48:49Another day, another device.
0:48:49 > 0:48:52I think I stopped enjoying it at that point.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54EXPLOSION
0:48:54 > 0:48:56Not to the point of misery,
0:48:56 > 0:48:59but it was a lot less fun from that point on.
0:48:59 > 0:49:02Another day in paradise, eh, boys?
0:49:02 > 0:49:05Being here just puts everything in perspective.
0:49:05 > 0:49:09You see shocking things so regularly that it becomes normal,
0:49:09 > 0:49:13and on the scale of things, telling the wife off for leaving
0:49:13 > 0:49:17the child's toys out everywhere... It's just... What does it matter?
0:49:17 > 0:49:18Firing!
0:49:20 > 0:49:23You know, just go home and be happy.
0:49:23 > 0:49:26It's almost like you get the chance for a fresh start.
0:49:26 > 0:49:31You think, "I'll come back from this and I'm not going to be such a shitbag to my family.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35"I'm going to spend a lot more time with Jennifer."
0:49:35 > 0:49:39I hate to think that she's not going to develop properly cos
0:49:39 > 0:49:43I haven't played with her or I haven't been a very good father.
0:49:43 > 0:49:47I think, if I'm completely honest with myself, you know, I haven't.
0:49:50 > 0:49:52It's quite upsetting, actually, when I think about it.
0:49:52 > 0:49:59I've tried so hard doing all this and then not really tried very hard
0:49:59 > 0:50:01at the more important things.
0:50:07 > 0:50:10On Adam and the team's last day on duty, they get called out
0:50:10 > 0:50:12to one final bomb.
0:50:12 > 0:50:15Watch the alleyways when you go down, boys.
0:50:24 > 0:50:27Keep your fucking eyes and wits about you.
0:50:30 > 0:50:35- All right, son? What's your name? - Kalam.- Your name's Kalam?
0:50:35 > 0:50:39Pleased to meet you. Be good. Don't turn into a terrorist.
0:50:43 > 0:50:4630 seconds away.
0:50:46 > 0:50:49Keep your head down.
0:50:49 > 0:50:51Fucking hate this.
0:50:51 > 0:50:53Stand by! Firing!
0:50:56 > 0:50:59Stay down!
0:50:59 > 0:51:04After six months in Afghanistan, Adam and the team's tour is over.
0:51:13 > 0:51:16As cheesy as it sounds, I was fully accepting of the fact
0:51:16 > 0:51:18that I might not come back.
0:51:18 > 0:51:22I never thought any further than the end of the tour
0:51:22 > 0:51:25because I always thought, Sod's law and I thought
0:51:25 > 0:51:28something's going to happen to me, guaranteed.
0:51:28 > 0:51:33Towards the end, it was just a case of, I've got ten days to survive,
0:51:33 > 0:51:36I've got nine days to survive.
0:51:36 > 0:51:41And you just concentrate on that, but right up until the very last day,
0:51:41 > 0:51:44that very last job, I thought something's going to happen.
0:51:44 > 0:51:48It sounds dramatic, but I just thought I'd either come back
0:51:48 > 0:51:52with legs missing or I won't come back.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55It's been emotional. That's all I can say. It's been emotional.
0:51:55 > 0:51:59Obviously, good things have happened and bad things have happened.
0:51:59 > 0:52:03Unfortunately, some people didn't make it back and obviously,
0:52:03 > 0:52:06other people did make it back, but not as they went out.
0:52:06 > 0:52:11So, apart from that, I'm glad to be back.
0:52:21 > 0:52:26Alex Stringer is home from rehab for four weeks rest with his family.
0:52:29 > 0:52:33His left arm was so badly damaged, it also had to be amputated.
0:52:40 > 0:52:43Obviously, I remember getting blown up, but like, initially,
0:52:43 > 0:52:46when I hit the ground, I thought someone else had been blown up
0:52:46 > 0:52:48and I'd just been knocked off my feet.
0:52:50 > 0:52:54And then next thing I remember was being in the stretcher
0:52:54 > 0:52:56talking to Marty, trying to keep me conscious
0:52:56 > 0:53:00and he was constantly reminding me, "You're doing this for your girls,
0:53:00 > 0:53:02"you've got to stay with us, got to stay with us.
0:53:02 > 0:53:05"Your daughter's just been born," and all stuff like that.
0:53:12 > 0:53:15And erm, like, at one point, I did a bit of a cliche
0:53:15 > 0:53:19and I was laying there and said, "I don't want to die out here."
0:53:19 > 0:53:21And he reassured me and said I wouldn't and that.
0:53:21 > 0:53:24Come here! Millie!
0:53:24 > 0:53:26You owe me a game of dominoes.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36I feel brilliant, like. I don't see this as a down side.
0:53:36 > 0:53:39I just see it as a new lease of life, new way of looking at things.
0:53:39 > 0:53:42It's just more challenging. Everyone lives for challenges.
0:53:42 > 0:53:46Otherwise, what do you live for?
0:53:46 > 0:53:50I want to put Pepper Pig there, look. I'll put one there.
0:53:50 > 0:53:52Oh, look you got dogs there, look.
0:53:52 > 0:53:57You can't look at it as in, "I'm disabled, I can't do anything."
0:53:57 > 0:54:02Just got to look at it, right, I've got one arm and my head, you know.
0:54:02 > 0:54:05Got to work my way around problems now.
0:54:08 > 0:54:12You got to get up and get about. And keep going.
0:54:12 > 0:54:14I'm looking forward to what the future holds.
0:54:20 > 0:54:22Going to make me a cup of tea?
0:54:22 > 0:54:24But every day I've got afterwards,
0:54:24 > 0:54:27you know, every day I keep seeing my girls and carrying on,
0:54:27 > 0:54:32I thank the boys for it, cos if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here.
0:54:34 > 0:54:37It's good. Life's good.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41- Can you see Daddy yet? - I can.- You can't.
0:54:42 > 0:54:45For the past three weeks Adam, Rachael and Jennifer have been
0:54:45 > 0:54:49on holiday, camping and hiking together in Scotland.
0:54:49 > 0:54:52I think the problem we had as a family was that I'd spent
0:54:52 > 0:54:54so much time away from them that we weren't a family.
0:54:54 > 0:55:00It was Rachael and Jennifer and me, and I was just the angry man who came back and told everyone off.
0:55:00 > 0:55:02And I sort of promised myself when I was out there
0:55:02 > 0:55:04that if I got back, then I'd address all that.
0:55:04 > 0:55:08So I suppose, if anything, it's probably made me
0:55:08 > 0:55:12a little bit calmer and a little bit more accepting of stuff.
0:55:15 > 0:55:17Is he different?
0:55:17 > 0:55:20I dunno. It's hard to... He's always been...
0:55:20 > 0:55:24This is going to sound bad, but he's always been kind of grumpy.
0:55:24 > 0:55:29But he's certainly trying so hard with Jennifer, it's obvious.
0:55:29 > 0:55:34So yeah, we're all right. Happy.
0:55:36 > 0:55:40I'm not going to come back and say I'm a changed man from that tour.
0:55:40 > 0:55:45I'm really not. We saw some horrible things and saw some amazing things.
0:55:45 > 0:55:48But certainly being out there put a lot of things in perspective.
0:55:48 > 0:55:52And I'm just grateful for having been and done and come back.
0:55:56 > 0:55:59Brimstone take on their biggest operation ever
0:55:59 > 0:56:02in one of the most dangerous parts of Helmand.
0:56:02 > 0:56:05Contact!
0:56:07 > 0:56:10And as new teams face new challenges...
0:56:10 > 0:56:15There may be more to this than meets the eye.
0:56:15 > 0:56:17..they're all a long way from home.
0:56:17 > 0:56:21There's seven in a team, and there's only four of us left.
0:56:21 > 0:56:24We lost three in three months. We got three months to go.
0:56:24 > 0:56:27There's going to be no-one left type thing.
0:56:50 > 0:56:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:56:53 > 0:56:58E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk