Welsh soldiers survive Afghan blast

Nine soldiers from The 1st Battalion the Royal Welsh have escaped unhurt despite driving over a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.

An armoured vehicle saved Lieutenant Stephen Healey and his team from injury in the blast in Helmand province.

Stephen is based at the barracks in Chester and used to be a professional footballer with Swansea City.

The 27 year old said:

"We were driving along and then suddenly I felt a massive explosion and got thrown up into the air by the blast.

"I fell back into the turret and then all the debris and dirt from the explosion rained down on my head.

"My first thought was for the blokes in the vehicle and I felt sick thinking what I would find below me.

"The wagon was completely un-driveable but it had done its job and saved us - it was damaged but we weren't."