Soldier who lost legs in blast to tackle obstacle course from hell

Lance Bombardier James Simpson, 27, is set to be the first double amputee to compete in a Spartan Race event which features punishing, surprise obstacles – from mud crawls and ice-pit plunges to cargo-net climbs and fire-log leaps.

L/Bdr Simpson, from Rawdon, near Leeds, was serving with 5th Regiment, Royal Artillery when he stepped on an improvised explosive device as he returned from a patrol in Helmand. He lost both his legs above the knee and also damaged both his arms in the blast in November 2009. But he has surpassed expectation while training in woods close to his West Yorkshire home where he is trying to match his different prosthetics with the terrain and obstacles the event features.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said. “It’s not so much the run I’m really worried about, it’s getting over the obstacles.”

Having mastered his prosthetic legs with the help of the Army’s rehabilitation centre at Headley Court, in Surrey, L/Bdr Simpson took the decision to take it a step further after agreeing to run in a 1500m race at the Warrior Games for injured servicemen in the United States.

L/Bdr Simpson is starting with the Spartan York Sprint which is taking place on September 8 near Ripon, North Yorkshire, and features more than 25 obstacles over a 5km course. This is the shortest version of Spartan Race, which is held in various formats up to the “obstacle race from hell” Spartan Beast.

Head coach Michael Cohen has been helping him prepare. Mr Cohen said: “He’s coming to undulating terrain, he’s coming to muddy, wet, slippery slopes. He’s pushing his boundaries. It’s great. I feel inspired.”

To help L/Bdr Simpson raise money for the charity SSAFA visit www.justgiving.com/James-Simpson13.