A life-changing addition: Sgt Craig Gadd with his Genium limb (Picture: PA)

An injured commando is able to walk in the great outdoors again after being given a bionic leg.

Sgt Craig Gadd, of the Commando Engineers, was given a limb containing a micro processor to replace the prosthesis he has used since stepping on a hidden explosive device in Afghanistan three years ago.

The 41-year-old, from Hull, said: ‘It’s a lot better, with more functionality than the leg I had previously.

‘It enables you to walk downstairs a lot easier, walk down hills and uphill.’


Sgt Gadd has benefited from a £6.5million funding boost announced in February to ensure personnel injured in Iraq or Afghanistan will be able to have the limbs. More than 50 veterans have been fitted with 90 Genium legs that can be set to run or walk by remote control.

Tour of duty: Philip Hammond meets staff and veterans at Headley Court (Picture: PA)

Sgt Gadd added: ‘Most of the guys go out to Afghanistan as fit as they have ever been. They are very fit men, able to do pretty much anything that they want to do.



‘When guys lose their limbs they still want to be able to do that, so having the best functional leg that will give you that ability is very important.’

Defence secretary Philip Hammond visited the rehabilitation centre at Headley Court in Surrey.

‘Everybody has said the ability to stand still – confident the leg isn’t going to give way – is a major improvement,’ he said.