UK:Military Cross for "Bomb Magnet" blown up 15 times

Soldier bombed 15 TIMES describes risking his life to save others as 'occupational hazard'
UK Mirror
By Chris Hughes
Jul 11, 2014

Hero: Warrant Officer Class 1 Patrick Hyde

A British soldier blown up more than 15 times described risking his life to save others as “an occupational hazard” as he received his Military Cross.

Warrant Officer Class 1 Patrick Hyde – nicknamed The Bomb Magnet – said modestly: “I’m just fortunate enough that I’ve survived.”

Patrick, 38, was given his MC by Prince Charles in a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Afterwards, the senior soldier – who is Regimental Sergeant Major of the 4th Battalion The Rifles – gave an insight into some of the horrific incidents he had been involved in.

He said: “There’s no lucky charms. When you operate in Sangin, as I have done, it becomes a bit of an occupational hazard up there.

"We’re trained to do what we do and it becomes second nature.

"You work together as a team and regardless of the threat there’s a job to be done at the end of it.”

Patrick, from Cheltenham, was awarded the medal in July last year for his part in an action in Taliban-infested Sangin, where more than 100 Brits have been killed.
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