The Shots Trust

He said: “Our patrol base had been attacked from the same location several times and we went out to search the compounds. All of a sudden we came under heavy fire and I felt three rounds pass through my right thigh, and then another one through my left thigh.”

Within 20 hours LCpl Fitzpatrick was back at the Queen Elizabeth
Hospital in Birmingham, where he had five operations before
spending a month at Headley Court.
 
The father-of-one said: “You’re told the worst in hospital, and that was
that my right leg might be amputated. I can remember lying in bed
and thinking that was the end of my Army career and playing football.
But I was determined to do my best and the treatment I had was
brilliant, particularly at Headley Court. I worked really hard and the
staff pushed me, both physically and psychologically.”

LCpl Fitzpatrick went back to 2 PARA in June and immediately
returned as a tough tackling centre midfielder for the battalion football
team, then was selected for the Infantry team and called up to train
with the Army.

Major Richie Bell, manager of the Army football team, said: “From his
first trial LCpl Fitzpatrick stood out as a tenacious midfielder, who was
extremely fit with good technical abilities. In his first season he played
well and we were looking to him to take on a bigger role on his return
from Afghanistan.

“When I heard about his injury I though that was the end of his football
career, but then he was back playing and I invited him to come down
for training. He impressed so much that we put him straight into the
starting eleven and he more than justified his selection.”

LCpl Fitzpatrick, who is married to Kerry-Marie and has a four-year-old son called Joshua, said: “I know I’ve been lucky and the surgeons can’t believe the recovery I’ve made. It’s brilliant to play football again at a high level, but what means the most to me is that I’ll be able to have a kick-around in the park with Joshua.”

Lieutenant Colonel Adam Dawson, Commanding Officer of 2 PARA, said: “LCpl Fitzpatrick’s recovery is a prime example of the formidable spirit and character of the Paratrooper. The determination and grit he has shown to get over his injuries and back on the football field is a credit to himself, the Parachute Regiment and the Army.”