THIS photograph shows how close a Barton-Upon-Humber soldier

came to death when his Land Rover was ripped apart by a Taliban

land mine.

Lance Bombardier Matthew Richardson (22) is back at home with

his family after spending more than a month in the specialist

Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

As reported in the Scunthorpe Telegraph, Matthew's feet were

shattered when the Land Rover he was driving on patrol in

Afghanistan struck a land mine last month.

Matthew said: "I'm really lucky because normally there are

no survivors.

"We've always been saying there should be better underside

armour for these vehicles.

"Everyone who has seen the photograph has said I'm lucky to

be alive."

For the full story, see today's Scunthorpe Telegraph.