British Army hero working with the Scottish charity Bravehound.

British Army hero says he owes the life he has now to being blown up in Afghanistan

When Lance Corporal John James – known as JJ – Chalmers, 29, stepped on an explosive device, it could have killed him. Instead, it spurred him on to achieve more than he could ever have thought possible…

For me to be able to say, ‘Something terrible happened to me once, but look what I’ve gone on to achieve’, would have been enough, but it turned out to be just the start.

After being interviewed by Olympian-turned-broadcaster Jonathan Edwards, it struck me I would enjoy the challenge of presenting something like Invictus. That led to me presenting at the Paralympics in Rio in 2016, the Invictus Games in Orlando, and in Toronto this year.

It’s also led to me working with the Scottish charity Bravehound, which matches companion dogs to wounded veterans, for the National Lottery Awards.

• Daily Mirror [Read full article]