Stephen Vause was only 19 when he was deployed to Iraq as an infantryman.

During fierce fighting around Basra in 2007, he suffered a very serious head injury from a mortar blast.

Stephen was picked up by an RAF helicopter crew and fought for his life while the aircraft itself came under fire.

With thanks to Stephen Vause and Royal Star & Garter

Produced by Joe Cowen and Josella Waldron

Sound design by Sean Harper

Original Music by Will Farmer

Executive Producer Alex Griffiths

To hear the full story of Stephen’s rescue listen here:

https://radio.bfbs.com/radioplayer/podcast/e4095194-3672-5223-80ef-2ded8338895f

If you’ve been affected by Stephen’s story you can find information about support here:

https://www.bfbs.com/audience-support

In September 2005 Karl Hinett was an 18-year-old infantry soldier serving with the British Army in Iraq.

During a deployment to Basra, as part of an operation to rescue two SAS soldiers, his Warrior armoured vehicle was caught in a full-scale riot.

What happened next forced Karl to decide whether to live or die.

With thanks to Karl Hinett

Produced by Joe Cowen and Josella Waldron

Sound design by Sean Harper

Original Music by Will Farmer

Executive Producer Alex Griffiths

If you’ve been affected by Karl’s story you can find information about support here:

https://www.bfbs.com/audience-support

Warning: Upsetting content from the outset.

Liz McConaghy deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan with the RAF as a chinook helicopter crewman.

She regularly witnessed death and trauma while picking up seriously injured soldiers from the battlefield as part of the Medical Emergency Response Team or MERT.

Liz’s first brush with death came when her helicopter struck some overhead wires.

Years later she would face it again in her own home. 

With thanks to Liz McConaghy

Produced by Joe Cowen and Josella Waldron

Sound design by Sean Harper

Original Music by Will Farmer

Executive Producer Alex Griffiths

If you have been affected by Liz’s story you can find information about support here:

https://www.bfbs.com/audience-support

In April 2022 Aiden Aslin was under siege in a bombed-out steel works in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol.

Aiden was serving as a Marine with Ukrainian forces.

Russian forces had encircled the city and Aiden had to make a choice; escape on foot or surrender.

With thanks to Aiden Aslin

Produced by Joe Cowen and Josella Waldron

Original music by Will Farmer

Sound Design by Sean Harper

Executive Producer Alex Griffiths

Kirk Bowett was a soldier in the British Army for 16 years and served in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.

After leaving the forces he returned to Iraq to work as a private security consultant.

In the summer of 2013 during a high-risk security operation the vehicle he was travelling in was hit by a roadside bomb. His driver was killed on impact.

Kirk survived.

With thanks to Kirk Bowett

Produced by Joe Cowen and Josella Waldron

Original music by Will Farmer

Executive Producer Alex Griffiths

Derek Derenalagi was born in Fiji and followed his boyhood dream of becoming a soldier in the British Army.

In 2007 while serving with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment in Afghanistan, the Land Rover he was travelling in hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED).

The blast left him fighting for his life.

In his own words, Derek explains that it was on the operating table at Camp Bastion Hospital where he decided it wasn’t time to go.

How do you come back from the brink?

A close encounter with a body bag, an out of body experience or a fight through a wall of fire. 

Some people know what it’s like to come back from death’s door.

Near Death is a brand-new podcast from BFBS Creative that explores some of the darkest stories of human survival.

Follow now and never miss an episode.