Kevin Woodford

Amputee and Member

Kevin was born in Nottingham in 1960 and completed an apprenticeship in bricklaying after leaving school at the age of 16. After careful consideration he decided to pursue a career in the British Armed Forces and, at the age of 21, joined the Royal Marines. Upon completing his training at Lympstone, Devon he was posted to Arbroath, Scotland where he joined 45 Commando.

On  April 3 1982 his unit was told that they would be embarking for the Falkland Islands and within 48 hours they had set sail from Rosyth, Fife for the long journey to the South Atlantic. After nearly 6 weeks they landed at San Carlos Bay.

Whilst Kevin was still on the Sir Galahad the ship was attacked by the Argentine Air Force. He was casualty evacuated from the burning ship just before the on board ammunition exploded. If you saw the evacuation footage by helicopter from the smoking Sir Galahad at the time – you most probably saw Kevin.

Kevin was sent on to the hospital ship Uganda and then on to HMS Hydra to Montevideo, Uruguay and flown back to the UK on board an RAF VC10. On the 30 June 1982 at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar in Gosport, further amputation was carried out to above the knee.

Kevin now enjoys an active life. He goes to the gym every day wearing a prosthetic limb and pushes 150 kgs on the bench press with ease.

Kevin is Honorary Secretary of BLESMA Leicester Branch.