A veteran who sustained serious burns in Iraq has marked the 20th anniversary of the day he was injured with a 500km trek in the Arctic Circle.
Karl Hinett (ex-Staffords) embarked on Project Fire and Ice — a ten-day slog through Swedish Lapland — alongside Military Cross holder Brian Wood (ex-PWRR), former special forces soldier Jason Fox, and Royal Marine-turned-TV adventurer Aldo Kane.
Hinett, who was 18 when his Warrior armoured vehicle was set alight in Basra in 2005, said the goal was to raise funds for SSAFA while also shining a light on veterans’ mental health.
“The idea was to reflect real life by working together as a team,” he told Soldier.
“If we had an issue with the cold we had to rely on each other. And while being out in the Arctic is an extreme example, we’re trying to highlight the fact that people can have that mentality at home, too, and reach out to a friend if they find themselves struggling.
“We also want to get the message across about getting out there, keeping fit and making the most of every day.”
Having also faced ultramarathons around the world and an expedition to Mount Everest, the ex-infanteer was no stranger to gruelling challenges, but said the cold presented considerable issues.
“My hands were the worst affected by the burns — the resulting scar tissue makes it difficult to regulate heat and my circulation is quite poor,” he continued.
“I sometimes can’t feel the effects of the cold until it’s too late, so that was something I had to be extra conscious of.”
After seeing how his injuries had affected his loved ones, Hinett added that SSAFA’s work supporting troops’ families was a cause close to his heart.
To boost the team’s fundraising, visit: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us/project-fire-and-ice
