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Afghanistan War veteran who lost both legs says gaming saved his life
23 March
A former soldier from County Durham, who was severely injured in an attack in Afghanistan that left him with several broken bones and severe burns to his legs, claimed that computer gaming saved his life.
Mikey Keighley was injured on an exercise in scrubland during his second tour of duty in the year 2011.
The 33-year old was reclusive, but he now has a thriving social life after he learned how to play with one hand.
Mr. Keighley is from Shotton and plays against players around the world.
His fan base is growing via a streaming platform on which he has the username MonkeyNooLegs.
Mr Keighley sustained severe injuries when an unintentional explosive device (IED) detonated.
He stated, "I flew up in the air and then crashed into the ground."
"The first thing I did was look at my right hand and I screamed 'man down'. My friend ran over and sewed me up with tourniquets before I was escorted away by helicopter.
"I joined the army aged 19 and did my first tour of Afghanistan aged 20, I was injured when I was 21 and was able to spend my 22nd birthday in critical medical care.
"I was on life support for just a few weeks and I was paralysed from neck down for months because of the trauma caused to my back nerves.
"I had to lie in my bed for months - it was the worst thing that could happen to me."
He was treated at a defence medical rehabilitation centre, and his family contacted Help for Heroes when he was discharged for medical reasons from the army.
He recently raised nearly PS1,000 for the charity during a tournament.
Mr. Keighley was able to rediscover his passion for gaming after he found an appropriate controller with four paddles underside that he uses with two fingers and thumb.
'Sad loner'
He added, "I used to feel socially isolated, but now I have a huge friendship group with whom I have a long time every day. It just happens to be on the internet.
"I never thought I'd be an acquaintance with people from Australia and America.
"I would say gaming has saved me. Gaming is a distraction from the real world. You don't have to think about your life.
"I used to sit in my kitchen with the music on all daylong, I would stare out of the window.
"Gaming makes it simple to connect with people, something I've never done outside of my family."
Mr. Keighley is now planning to travel overseas to play in tournaments on his own.
"It would show me how far I've come from my injury and what I could accomplish. He said he'd be a lonely man without Help for Heroes.
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Help for Heroes
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