Blind soldier helps Ghana village

The project was to improve water and sanitation for villagers

A former soldier who lost his sight and a leg in an air crash has been helping to improve sanitation in Africa.

Steve Pendleton, 39, of Hoo, Kent, has been disabled since the helicopter crash in Northern Ireland 14 years ago.

Last month he joined a team organised by St Dunstan's - a charity that works with blind ex-servicemen - to work with 3,000 people for a month in Ghana.

The blind and sighted volunteers ran daily hygiene classes in the village and inspected sanitation facilities.

In just four weeks the Royal Engineers and the villagers laid a four-mile pipeline and drilled nine boreholes. Two resulted in new wells.

The married father-of-three said that when a fellow member invited him to join the team, he reacted with surprise.

"Once he actually convinced me I was the guy for the job I was more than happy to go."

The father-of-three helped with classes and inspections

He said work on the water project, organised by the charity and serving Army personnel, continued in the village after the team left.

"It is amazing to think it is because this blind man with one leg went out there, did it, got on with the job, didn't moan, stuck his head down and didn't worry about it, or his disabilities, or anything."

Mr Pendleton said he discovered he was as adaptable and resourceful as he was before he was injured.

Charity spokesman Rory Scott said: "These projects prove to the world that people can be employed in a working environment and blindness isn't the be-all-and-end-all."

His wife Michaela said: "When we sit down and think about it, it is quite emotional.

"I don't worry when he walks down to the dentist now. He's been to Ghana so he can do anything."