Huddersfield solider's cancer found after he was shot in Afghanistan

Jun 24 2010 by Kevin Core, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Amazing cancer discovery for wounded Huddersfield soldier karl

FORMER solider Karl Mowatt says he was lucky to be shot in Afghanistan.

The bullet from a Taliban gunman’s weapon lodged in his kidney as he fought with the Parachute Regiment in the Helmand Province.

After being badly wounded in the Taliban gun battle in May 2006, the former Para from Denby Dale underwent emergency surgery – and the doctors uncovered a potentially fatal cancer.

Doctors told the 28-year-old that the stage four kidney tumour had not been discovered, he would have been dead in his early thirties.

Now, after months of treatment first to his war wounds, followed by radiotherapy for his cancer, the soldier is still fighting.

Astonishing doctors, on Saturday he will compete in a kickboxing bout in the Closed Combat Arena Championships for the Northern middleweight title.

He said: “I joined the Army at 15 years and nine months.

“I always wanted to be in the Army. My dad was a wagon driver and when I was in Ireland with him I saw some of the Paras and I just wanted to be part of it.

“I signed up as soon as I could.

“I joined the former Duke of Wellingtons Regiment and later became a Para.

“ I did numerous tours, including Kosovo and several times in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It was on one of the tours in Afghanistan that I was in action near Sangin and I was shot in the groin, but the bullet lodged in my kidney.

“I lost four pints of blood and I flatlined, so technically I died.

“The treatment took place in Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham for surgery and it was there they found the cancer.