THE Examiner has exclusive access to Lance Cpl Paul Hartley's report of the events as they unfolded.

Huddersfield soldier Paul, who was at the Kajaki base, was told a soldier had been injured by a mine and rushed with colleagues to the scene.

A corporal was in the minefield and the force of the blast had blown his right leg off.

Another soldier was putting a tourniquet on - improvising with a piece of cloth - that had partially stopped the blood flow.

Paul applied a proper combat tourniquet and told two of the injured man's colleagues to keep the stump raised.

He then gave the man an injection of drugs to stabilise his condition.

Other platoon members had plotted what they believed was a safe route through the minefield, but as they made their way to what they thought was a safe area, another soldier triggered a second mine and lost his left leg.

Paul was anxious to help this man, but was ordered to stay where he was due to the danger.

Platoon commander, 27-year-old Cpl Mark Wright, took control and radioed for help.

A Chinook helicopter hovered down, but the soldiers waved it away, fearing it could trigger further mines.

Paul said: "As the Chinook took off, the downwash blew a mine into Cpl Wright.

"The impact hit his right arm and the explosion caused partial amputation to his right arm and shrapnel injuries to his chest."

Two other soldiers were also hit by the shrapnel and one of them was seriously hurt.

Cpl Wright was bleeding badly and Paul knew he needed urgent treatment to stem the blood.

He yelled instructions to a soldier, but the man was unable to respond due to the confusion and shock.

Paul then made the decision to get to Cpl Wright.

He threw his medical backpack in front of him.

Once it landed and had not triggered a mine he jumped onto it.

He used this technique eight times, but as he neared Cpl Wright another soldier bent down to pick up a bottle of water and set off yet another landmine.

Shrapnel again hit the already badly wounded Cpl Wright.

Paul was also hit by shrapnel, suffering injuries to his chest, arms and legs.

He also suffered a condition called blast lung. His mouth was open when the mine exploded and the force of the blast went straight into his lungs.

He said: "Initially I thought I might die. I had extreme difficulty breathing due to the blast lung.

"I could hear the other lads screaming and thought that if I could stand I knew I was still alive.

"For some reason I suddenly felt I wouldn't die that day and got across to Cpl Wright."

Cpl Wright had suffered severe injuries to his face, neck, arm and chest.

At the same time, Paul threw medical equipment - including morphine - to other wounded comrades and shouted instructions about how to use it.

He covered Cpl Wright's gaping chest wound with a bandage and applied pressure while waiting for help.

In the end he took off his own T-shirt and used that too - but ended up with severe sunburn in the searing heat as a result.

The soldiers kept being told a helicopter would be there within 15 minutes, but it was three hours before American Black Hawk helicopters arrived.

Paul was one of the final ones to be airlifted clear of the minefield.

Sadly Cpl Wright died on board the helicopter.

He lived in Edinburgh with his fiancee, Gillian.

Paul has praised the bravery of many of his colleagues that day who risked their own lives to save others.

But he says Cpl Wright's bravery and leadership was outstanding.

He said: "He was the bravest man I ever knew.

"He exercised command and control throughout the incident, giving direction and outstanding leadership in dire circumstances and was a calming influence on those who were severely wounded, even though fatally wounded himself.

"His presence contributed significantly to the eventual rescue and survival of those who were injured and prevented others from also becoming casualties."