HE’S only 22 and already James Cairns is a war hero.

The former Newsome High School pupil has survived a Taliban attack, 16 hours of painful surgery, five bloodtransfusions and a huge skin graft.

But the Army private, from Lindley, is determined to walk again after being shot by a Taliban sniper during the first month of serving in Afghanistan.

And he says: “I can’t wait to get back out there.”

He and his Yorkshire Regiment comrades came under attack after they raided what intelligence sources suggested was an arms compound on October 31.

Only a revolver was found, but they came under enemy fire as they were searching the area.

As James was lying on his stomach shooting, a bullet came over his left shoulder and blew his right leg apart.

Another bullet hit his hip, which luckily bounced off a grenade carrier he was wearing.

“We were in a firing position, aiming at the Taliban,” said James.

“There were about three of them firing at us and running away. Then, there was a sniper off to the left, which none of us had seen.

“I suddenly felt a thud and then there was a burning sensation in my leg.

“I went to move and my leg just felt floppy like jelly. Then the pain kicked in. It was unreal and absolutely excruciating. I have never felt anything like it in my life.

“Two of my colleagues gave me morphine straightaway. I was in agony because it doesn’t kick in for about 20 minutes.

“I thought I was going to die, I was in so much pain. I was lucky to keep my leg.”

A helicopter was called in to airlift James to hospital at Camp Bastion, where he was based. The chopper was also shot at four times as it moved away.