Wali Noori: ‘I stepped on a bomb in Afghanistan – blind running saved my life’

Wali Noori stepped on an incendiary device while serving as an speaker for the British Army in Afghanistan in 2009.

At the age of 20, he was totally blind due to the explosion.

He enjoyed running in the Kabul hills as a child, but Wali feared he would never be allowed to do so.

He describes how moving to the UK altered his career and his resolve to not offer in in his own thoughts.

I was a very good athlete when I was a kid in Kabul and used to work to stay in shape. I finished my research and wanted to go to college, but my family was pretty bad and I had to help them. They were starving, my dad was not able to operate and I have five sisters and four boys.

So I enlisted in the British Army at the age of 18 as a translator and social advisor. I excelled in my British studies at university. It was a very important work for me to facilitate communication between the British Army, Afghan forces, and local citizens.

When asked if I did visit Helmand Province, I said yes, yet though I knew I had to accept that I may die. It was like heaven. I was n’t scared because there were so many ambushes and daily deaths.

When I stepped on an Incident ( improvised explosive device ) while on guard, I had been there for two years. I was thrown into the air before coming down. I believed I may be passing away, but it sounded like a dream. I lost all 28 of my teeth, and my entire face was covered in debris.

I slowed down, but I still managed to get my mouth and pull out a piece of debris. I was taken out of a helicopter and could not see anything, so I spent two weeks in a sleep in a Kabul military doctor.

The physicians did not expect me to live. When I woke up, I was unable to talk, so I had to record my name for them so they could visit the friend who had informed my family of what had transpired.

It was a pretty difficult period for my parents when they first arrived. I tried to smile for them while standing up so I would n’t look so bad, but I was still unable to speak.

I was moved to Bagram Hospital and Airbase, where I received physical injuries and bones. My throat was a pipe that I could breathe through. Before going to clinics in both India and Pakistan to see if they could keep my sight, I spent a month it. It was not possible to do so.

It was n’t easy, and there were some dark days ahead. I once cherished running, but I now believe my working days are over. I was a solitary man, and I ended up residing again with my home in Afghanistan. I did n’t know how to survive the rest of my life, and I believed no one would want to wed me.

But in 2012, I had an arranged marriage. My family has been my biggest follower since that day. She removed my light wood and said,” I am your stick. She is very kind, and whenever I’m down, she says,” Come on, I’m here.” We are so fortunate to possess three stunning kids.

I may not function while living in Afghanistan, even though I wanted to. I was paid a week’s salary by the British Army, but I was struggling because the country’s laws prohibit disabled people.

The American government informed me that I was ready to bring my family here in 2014, and I did so. Although it took two years to figure out, we have not looked again since we moved to Colchester.

I really like it around. It is a great place and I have made some wonderful friends, mainly at my running team, the Colchester Harriers. And we are healthy.

Because they have guide athletes, I realized I may start running once more, which has given me both my liberty and emotional health. Despite my accidents, I still have horrible headaches when I run.

I waited five times before being chosen for the Invictus Games, and I was so happy to represent the British in September. I won four gold awards, in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m. When I first met Prince Harry and Meghan, they were thus welcoming and welcoming.

Harry shook my hand, I did n’t know who he was. I said” who is this”? and he said” I’m Prince Harry” and we laughed and chatted. It was a truly amazing time in my life.

I have now won 21 awards for running and three for swimming. I always want to make progress in my life, and I always look up. I make certain I never give up and I am constantly trying to improve.

My ultimate goal is to engage at the Paralympic Games in the future. I met the requirements and qualified for it based on how quickly I am, but I missed the deadline to use again. But I’ll arrive it one day. I want to finish the six main sports that I did in 2019 in London.

I just finished writing a book about my career, which will be released on September 12th, which is 15 years since I lost my vision. I speak with some soldiers who were hurt in Ukraine and speak to various organizations, including veterans of the army, in schools and colleges. When I receive funding for these remarks, I return them to Afghanistan to assist the widows and orphans it.

I’ll not repent enlisting in the British Army and what transpired. Before that, life was very difficult for me, but today things are going well. I will not sacrifice to my blindness. I want to continue to inspire individuals and demonstrate that a disability does not have to prevent you from accomplishing great things.

As told to Charlie Jones