THE DAY I CHEATED DEATH

THE DAY I CHEATED DEATH
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BY ALAN THOMPSON

10:30 - 19 May 2008



A wounded airman who cheated death in Iraq when he was caught in rocket fire has told of the terrifying moment shells rained down all around him.

Senior Aircraftman Jon Butterworth was blasted into the air by the force of the explosions at Basra airfield.

The 22-year-old, who is based at RAF Cottesmore, in Rutland, was left lying in a pool of his own blood after the attack.



Military surgeons battled in vain all day to save his injured arm, which had to be amputated at the elbow.

The father-of-one had been driving his Land Rover to work with a colleague when the siren sounded at the base last August.