I'm alive becauseof Hesco basket

An American soldier fought back tears as recalled the day his life was saved by the blast wall protective baskets invented by entrepreneur Jimi Heselden.

By The Newsroom

Published 11th Oct 2010, 19:37 BST

Updated 11th Oct 2010, 23:38 BST

Sergeant David McGregor, 35, above, travelled to Mr Heselden’s funeral from Texas because he felt so strongly about he man he credits with saving his life.

Sgt McGregor described how his sleeping position in northern Iraq was protected by Hesco baskets when a mortar round landed on the other side of the barrier in March 2004.

He said: “If it was not for that barrier I would never have gotten out of that battlefield alive and my wife and two children at that time would only have had a flag to remember me by.

“I’m here because the Hesco basket saved my life. I have a beautiful family that I’ve seen grow because of that.

“There is no way to express how grateful I am to be alive. I now have four kids and one on the way.”