A SOLDIER from Harborough has spoken of the moment he narrowly escaped death during a tour of Afghanistan.
Trooper David MacDougall (22) was refuelling a vehicle when a Taliban bullet smashed through the jerry can he was holding.
The former Robert Smyth School pupil was serving with 3 Commando Brigade earlier this year when the incident happened.
Trooper MacDougall, who had been taking part in a two-week adventure training course in Germany as part of recuperation from the tour, said: “The tour was very hard, watching mates dying and getting injured was tough.
“I narrowly missed death when a round passed through the jerry can as I was refuelling my vehicle.”
The adventure course in Wertach in the Bavarian Alps has seen Trooper MacDougall take part in kayaking, hill walking, rock climbing, parachuting and kletterstieg – moving along ladders and cables on cliff faces.
The aim of the training is to develop leadership and enhance the performance of service personnel in times of peace and war.
About 800 soldiers take part each year and those who gain qualifications can then pass on the appropriate training and development to others.
Trooper MacDougall, now serving in the Queen’s Royal Hussars (The Queen’s Own and Royal Irish), based in Germany, said: “This is my first time on adventure training.
“It gives you a chance to be yourself and spend quality time with the lads.
“I have done kayaking, capsize drills, learning to paddle and building my confidence on the water. I think what’s on offer in Bavaria for the lads is great.”
Part of his work saw Trooper MacDougall work with Challenger 2 battle tanks and a gunnery course.
“It was a six-week course where I learnt to fire 120mm shells and use the 7.62 calibre chain gun,” he said.
