Local hero thanks his 'miracle workers'

A paratrooper who suffered serious injuries in a roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan thanked the staff who helped in his rehabilitation at an event in Doncaster yesterday.

Ben Parkinson lost both legs and suffered a fractured skull which left him unable to speak, and spent time with staff from a health trust in Doncaster to regain his speech.

To repay them, the local hero opened a shop to be run by Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber Mental Health Trust (RDaSH) which will help others suffering problems. He is seen with, from left, Helen Hardman, service user and artist whose work is displayed in the shop, Carol Hirst, RDaSH director of psychological therapies, and Clair Frost, a service user.

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The Talking Shop, in Hallgate, Doncaster, is designed to allow people the opportunity to drop in and browse information on mental health issues.

Lance Bombardier Parkinson’s mother Diane Dernie said: “Ben cannot speak too highly of the neuro-rehabilitation team at Tickhill Road Hospital – he calls them his ‘miracle workers’. Before he came to the service he was told that he would never walk or talk again, now thanks to the team, he can talk and uses prosthetic legs to walk. Opening Talking Shop is Ben’s way of publicly saying thank you.” Picture: Chris Lawton.