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'Having my leg removed was the best day of my life'

Alastair Fee
Health Correspondent, BBC South
Charlie Holford Charlie Holford, a man with a brown mullet hair cut. He wearing a red, sleeveless tank top with sports gloves on and has tattoos on his arms. He is in a wheelchair on a sports court and one of his legs has been amputated below the knee. It is strapped into position on the chair with a black band. On his lap is a white and red ball. The background is blurry, but there is a crowd in the stands and a male referee with a whistle in his mouth.Charlie Holford
Charlie Holford's leg was so painful, it often felt like it was on fire

An army veteran has said having his leg surgically removed was one of the best days of his life.

Charlie Holford, from Blandford Forum in Dorset, spent eight years in agonising pain after a fall during an army training exercise.

After the 34-year-old's leg fracture was misdiagnosed, he developed complex regional pain syndrome and the limb was amputated.

In 2020, he was fitted with a prosthetic at the Dorset Prosthetics Centre (DPC) in Bournemouth and has since competed in the Invictus Games.

Charlie Holford View of Charlie Holford's leg on a hospital bed, which has been amputated just below the knee. The photo has been taken from above and the leg is wrapped in bandages. No skin can be seen. Next to the amputated leg is his other, full leg. There is also a clear medical bag on the bed, which looks to be draining fluid.Charlie Holford
Mr Holford says the operation freed him from his pain

He described experiencing "ten-out-of-ten pain" 24 hours a day.

"For five minutes your leg would be on fire, wrapped in barbed wire, five minutes later it would be freezing cold being smashed with a hammer, the next five minutes would be liked needles being stabbed into it."

'I would have done anything'

After years of trying different treatments and painkillers to help him cope, he decided to have his leg amputated.

"It was quite a risky thing to do because [the pain] could spread for some people," he said.

"But at that point it was the easiest decision - because if I had a 1% chance of getting rid of the pain... I would have done anything."

Waking up after the surgery, Mr Holford said he felt no pain, which was "the greatest feeling".

Five years later, he has launched a new career as a CrossFit athlete - a high intensity fitness programme which is growing in popularity.

Rob Mannion, an older man with a grey beard wearing a bright yellow t-shirt. His left arm is a prosthetic, with a black forearm and a realistic light skin-coloured hand. On the table next to him is his old prosthetic, which has a beige strap. Rob is grinning.
Rob Mannion controls his new prosthetic hand using his arm muscles

Mr Holford is one of about 950 people being cared for at the DPC in the Royal Bournemouth hospital.

The team takes plaster moulds and prosthetic limbs are built on site.

Rob Mannion, who lost his hand in an accident while in the Royal Navy in 1962, is also a regular visitor.

He spent decades wearing a split hook prosthetic, which enabled him to hold and squeeze objects.

But the team have recently fitted the 78-year-old with a high-spec electric hand.

'Bionic grandad'

The new prosthetic is controlled by his own muscle signals, which Mr Mannion feels has made a huge impact.

"Splendid is the word I think, it's made a tremendous difference, I've got two arms again.

He now calls himself "the bionic grandad".

"The NHS has done a wonderful job and they're a wonderful team," he added.

Mr Holford agrees, and is now working towards competing in September's CrossFit Games in Las Vegas.

And with slightly less-sporty goals, Mr Mannion is eager to find out if his new electric hand will help with his home baking.

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