Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the loss of use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight. 

Blesma have supported me to attend the World Indoor Rowing Championships in the USA and continue to support my sporting goals.

They support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK and overseas. We work tirelessly for our Members when the conflicts that have affected their lives are no longer a focal point in the nation’s media. Since 1932, we have been the only national Service charity that supports limbless veterans for the duration of their lives. Our Members range from the youngest amputee veterans to those who fought in WWII, some having lived with limb loss for more than half a century. Modern medicine transforms the physical injury, but it is a complicated process to treat the emotional trauma and related lifelong health problems. Blesma provides a network where Members not only enjoy support from our professional Welfare Team, but where they have the opportunity to engage with others who have similar injuries and backgrounds to themselves, building an important fellowship with each other to overcome everyday battles.

“I was told I wouldn’t last 2 hours” – Amputee battles back from freak incident, 

TWENTY-SIX surgeries and testicular cancer; now competing for Wales in Commonwealth Games
Sean Gaffney, 46, from Pontefract, was involved in a freak naval incident, losing a limb in 1999
Two close to call: Told he ‘wouldn’t last two hours’, just one year later he re-joined the navy
Also fighting off two bouts of testicular cancer, he and his family now regularly compete in obstacle course races; set to compete in Total Warrior event in June
Young gun: Despite the gun incident, 46-year-old Sean ‘as fit as a 20-year old’ as he prepares to compete for Wales at the Commonwealth Games
Sean Gaffney, 46, is an Aircraft Technician from Pontefract, West Yorkshire, having served in the Navy for some 28 years.
That, however, doesn’t tell the full story as the man that was part of the Fleet Air Arm Field Gun Crew encountered a freak incident whilst preparing for the Royal Tournament back in 1999.
“It was during a practise run” he commented.
“As we manoeuvred a 900lb gun across some 28-foot chasm, attempting to connect it to a supportive rope, the barrel dropped from a height of around seven feet, smashing my left foot.”
Despite feeling ‘no pain’ initially and even trying to stand up, it soon became apparent that the injury he had sustained was worse than feared as five men struggled to pin down Sean, who added ‘the pain was even savage with morphine’.
Initially undergoing 25 surgeries over a three-month period as surgeons battled to save the foot, Sean had to consign to defeat. His 26th operation finally saw the amputation of his leg, but since that day it is clear Sean has always been determined not to be defeated.
“I developed Septicaemia, a form of blood poisoning, and was told I wouldn’t last two hours with the only choice being amputation. One month later I was given my first prosthetic leg and walked out of the disability centre without the need for a walking stick.”
Just one month further down the line, in January 2000, Sean joined his local gym and attempted running.
“It was the beginning of learning how to stand up again after a fall”, he said.
Possessing such admiral determination, The Royal Navy gave Sean the opportunity to be retained in service and he’s never looked back.
“A year after my amputation I passed my 1.5 mile and multi-stage fitness tests using the basic leg provided by the NHS. Now even at 46-years-old, I can get the pass mark required of a 20-year old.”
Despite this, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Sean in his quest to return to active service, as he endured a battle with a double dose of testicular cancer from 2001 until 2007 when he received the all clear.
“That only added a further hurdle to my return as the first amputee to return to active service since 1974, but I’m forever grateful that Lt (RN) Carl Harwood took a chance on me and offered me a job in Iraq.
“By 2009 I was serving a 7 month tour in Iraq, followed by 7 months in Afghanistan in 2011/2012 working as a rotary wing liaison officer overseeing the use of civilian helicopter squadron to resupply patrol bases.”
Alongside his incredible bouncebackability, Sean also developed a passion for obstacle course racing back in 2008 – in fact the first amputee to ever complete one of the first courses he took on.
He added: “That passion has turned into a special family affair and now my sister and wife both also have the ‘OCR (obstacle course racing) bug’.”
“We always look for bigger, longer, tougher events and our next challenge will be Total Warrior’s Leeds event on the weekend of June 23rd/24th.”
“OCR has given both me and my family a means to face adversity. Not only that, but it allows us to travel the country, see some amazing scenery and meet some inspiring people.”
If that wasn’t enough already, this April also marks an exciting time for the Welshman as he’s set to compete in his first ever Commonwealth Games.
Already an Invictus Games double gold medalist in 2016, 2017 World Indoor Rowing Champion, and a silver medallist from the most recent World Indoor Rowing Championships which took place in the USA, he’ll line up as a para powerlifting competitor in Australia.
“Powerlifting isn’t my passion, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. It was after a chance meeting with a Welsh team education officer at a powerlifting event in Stockport that the prospect came to life.”
“A lot of hard work has been put in since then, but hopefully it goes to show that at 46, it’s never too late to become an elite athlete!”
Swapping pies and ‘biscuits by the packet’, Sean now eats a balanced diet packed full of plenty of lean meats, vegetables and brown rice as he prepares for the opportunity of a lifetime.
“Since taking up powerlifting I’ve dropped from 116kg to 100kg in an attempt to be more competitive. My best domestic lift in competition is 181kg, and in world cup events under International Paralympic Committee rules it’s 172kg.”
As well as the Commonwealth Games, another of Sean’s goals for the future is to return to the top step of the podium at the 2019 World Indoor Rowing Championships. First, however, he’s excited to take a step out of the gym for the great outdoors in June and Total Warrior.
“It will be nice to be able to get out and run outdoors again and have a chance to be wet and muddy! With the Leeds event now local to me, I’m really looking forward to it.”
With obstacle course racing having become somewhat of a family affair, the family also look to raise money for charity each year and this year is no different.
“We have raised money for Help for Heroes and Blesma (a charity supporting limbless veterans) in the past and will again this year do the same.”
If you’d like to donate to Blemsa as Sean and family take on Total Warrior’s twenty-five strong obstacle course in June, visit
http://www.justgiving.com/owner-email/pleasesponsor/Sean-a-Gaffney.
To find out more about Total Warrior and to sign-up for your spot visit www.totalwarrior.co.uk.