Prince meets airman hurt in blast

Mr Goody told Prince Charles he was keen to get back out to Afghanistan

An airman who was injured during an explosion in Afghanistan has told Prince Charles he is lucky to be alive.

Senior aircraftman Mike Goody, 23, of Littlehampton, Sussex, was trapped underneath the vehicle he had been driving following the blast in October.

He chatted to Prince Charles at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham, where he is being treated for a foot injury.

"Looking at the photographs, I know I should not be here," Mr Goody said.

The Prince of Wales spoke to other members of the armed forces and the staff who treat them during a tour of the centre's facilities on Tuesday.

Speaking about the explosion Mr Goody said: "I am very lucky.

"We were coming back into camp, doing some drills, we didn't find anything.

"It was a very well hidden explosive we hit."

Mr Goody told Prince Charles he was keen to get back out to Afghanistan, if his injury would allow it.

The Prince of Wales also met two founders of TroopAid, a Solihull-based charity which sends toiletries and clothing to soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Troops that arrive at Selly Oak Hospital are also giving toothpaste, shaving kits and clothing by the charity which the Prince supports.

TroopAid chairman Albert Sutton said Prince Charles' patronage made a "tremendous difference".