L/Sgt French, from Holsworthy in Devon, found three pieces of shrapnel in his newly-issued Mark 7 combat helmet and Osprey assault body armour but said: "The new helmet and body armour probably saved my life."

Lance Sergeant Richard French thought his friends were messing around and throwing things at his helmet while he was manning a radio at a new command post in Babaji, Helmand.
However, the 28-year-old soon realised it was a much more serious issue - the second he spotted the grenade he leapt for cover.
He said: "I thought the blokes on stag were throwing stones at me as a joke, so I started to shout some friendly abuse at them.