Injured soldier recovering

FEET UP: Private Allister Baker with fiance Jae Barrett.

PROUD PAIR: Private Allister Baker and Jae Barrett.

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Golden Bay soldier Private Allister Baker, who was injured in an attack in Afghanistan, is well on the road to recovery and will be returning to Golden Bay to get married in December.

Mr Baker, 23, of Ligar Bay, was injured in Bamiyan province when a convoy of military vehicles he was travelling in was ambushed by insurgents on August 4. He suffered a shattered heel and burns to his left arm in the attack, which killed Lieutenant Tim O'Donnell, of Feilding, and also injured Lance Corporal Matthew Ball.

In her first interview with the media since shortly after the incident, Private Baker's mother Debbie said his recovery in Christchurch was "going really well".

"He wants to get back on his feet as quickly as he can in time for his wedding," said Mrs Baker, who spent several weeks in Christchurch with her son before her recent return home. Mr Baker and his fiancee, Jae Barrett, from Collingwood, are to marry in Golden Bay on December 4.

He is still recovering from his injuries in Christchurch. While the burns to his arm have almost healed without the need for skin grafts, he had to undergo a five-hour operation on August 21 to reconstruct his heel, which was shattered in the attack.

Mrs Baker said he was still sitting with his leg elevated and his foot in a plaster cast, which would be removed six weeks after the date of the operation. His fiancee was looking after him there.

Once he was able to walk on crutches he would be getting ready for "walking up the aisle", she said. The couple were both "in good spirits".

"They now need some time by themselves," Mrs Baker said.

She told The Nelson Mail of her "enormous relief and joy" on first seeing her son alive after the shock of hearing about the attack.

"When I saw him and held him the realisation of what had happened really hit me. It was an emotional moment," she said.

Part of Mr Baker's healing process has involved meeting Mr O'Donnell's family, who are trying to cope with their loss, and Mr Ball, who is also still recovering from his injuries.

All three families had spent some time together to offer each other support and it had been a very emotional time for them all.

Mrs Baker said support for her son had come from many in the army and from friends.

His brother, who lives in Britain, had flown over to visit, and cards, flowers, phone calls and emails had been flooding in since the incident. "That support has been wonderful," she said.

She was sure that Mr Baker wanted to return to army service after his recovery. "He definitely has all intentions to go back into the army – with full force if he can." She was hoping he would be able to return to Golden Bay in about six weeks.

- © Fairfax NZ News