A SOLDIER from Selby is lucky to be alive after he was injured in an explosion while serving in Afghanistan.

Lance Corporal James Grundy, of the Royal Engineers was on patrol with three members of the 21 Regiment when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near their vehicle.

James’s older brother Paul also served for five years in the regiment, and said James’s escape was “unbelievable”.

“There were four of them in the second vehicle in a convoy. James was in the passenger seat with the driver next to him and two in the back when the IED exploded,” said Paul, 40. The explosion killed the driver and left James with two broken cheekbones, but left the two troops in the back unhurt.

James remained conscious throughout the ordeal and had to climb out of the top of the vehicle due to the damage it had sustained.

Paul’s elder brother Peter is a Captain with the regiment and is also stationed in Afghanistan.

Paul, who runs Grundy’s Funeral Directors in Selby, found out about the incident when Peter phoned him last Monday morning.

“Peter got called to the hospital and stayed with James until they put him on the plane but he has to stay in Afghanistan,” said Paul. “I can’t think what’s going through Peter’s head, but the soldier he is, he just said ‘I’ve just got to get on with things out here’.” Paul said James was in good spirits at Selly Oak Hospital where he has already been visited by his parents and girlfriend.

“James has spoken to the family of the driver of the vehicle, and his thoughts are very much with them at the moment,” said Paul. “But when I asked if he had anything else he wanted to say he told me he just hoped that Leeds United get promoted.”