'Phenomenal': Double-amputee Duncan Slater from Ross-shire scoops overall champion and 'against all odds' accolades at Brave Britons awards
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A ROSS-SHIRE man who has undertaken incredible challenges and raised thousands for charities after losing both legs in a bomb blast has scooped the top two accolades at a Best of British awards for bravery.
Duncan Slater (42), originally from Muir of Ord, who has boosted the coffers of Help For Heroes, the RAF Benevolent Fund and Walk With The Wounded by taking on gruelling challenges was named Overall Champion and Against All Odds winner in the Amplifon Awards For Brave Britons 2021.
The father of two said: "It’s just phenomenal. It’s just topped off my year perfectly.”
He was a sergeant in the RAF when he lost both legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan.
The traumatic event did not prevent him from going on to do amazing challenges in aid of charity.
Mr Slater first reached the final four of the Act Of Courage category in global-hearing specialist Amplifon’s search for the Best of British heroes after raising many thousands of pounds for charities Help for Heroes, the RAF Benevolent Fund and Walk With The Wounded.
He learned last week he had won at a virtual prize ceremony hosted by presenter Rachel Burden and Falklands War hero, Simon Weston.
Mr Slater who now lives in Diss, Norfolk, joined the RAF Regiment when he was 19 following in the footsteps of his dad and grandad who both served in the RAF.
In 2009 he broke almost every bone in his body and lost both legs when the armoured vehicle he was travelling in was struck by a roadside bomb in Helmand Province.
He said: “There were three of us in the vehicle but I was the only one who took the full force of the explosion as it went off directly underneath me.”
Duncan Slater slops through the burning sands.Duncan Slater slops through the burning sands.
After spending five months in hospital and then recovery time at home, his friend Christopher Moore suggested they do a bike ride together. Not any bike ride but from Land’s End to John O’Groats.
“For me, it was just a case of ‘do your best’ but we cracked it in 10 days,” he said. “When we got to the top of Scotland my family, most of whom are from that area, were waiting for me. It gave me such a buzz.”
Since then he has completed the London Marathon, become the first double amputee to reach the South Pole and finished the gruelling Marathon de Sables in the Sahara desert.
For his incredible efforts Duncan was made a Honorary Freeman of Diss at the town's annual meeting with wife Kim, 37, and daughter Lilly, 11, looking on proudly.
As an ambassador for Walking With The Wounded he visits schools and businesses giving inspirational talks.
Mr Slater said: “I want to show you can be different and still go out and do things. I was the guy who instead of saying No, said Yes, and that's how I did what I did.”
The Overall Champion award was presented by Falklands War hero Simon Weston, who, over the years, has been an inspiration to Duncan.
Simon said: “The award goes to a person who exemplifies what the Amplifon awards represent – and that’s the Best of British.
“Duncan has overcome his own adversities, not only to achieve great things in their life but also to make an indelible inspirational stamp on the whole nation.
“He is an individual who doesn’t know when to give up. He bears no malice when he could be filled with anger. He has made it his mission to make a mark on society in a positive and productive manner.”
Duncan said: “To win these awards is unbelievable. It’s a huge privilege just to be here amongst all of the other finalists.
“I don’t want to embarrass him but Simon Weston has been a huge inspiration of mine. I have followed a lot of the stuff he has done and I just think he is an amazing human being.
“I can’t believe I have won these awards. It’s just phenomenal. It’s just topped off my year perfectly.”
