A wounded soldier left too fearful to leave the house after losing his leg in Afghanistan has turned his life around and become a doting new dad, thanks to BBC2’s Secret Helpers.
Jonny suffered a shattered foot and had to have his left leg amputated below the knee two years after his British army vehicle was destroyed when it drove over a hidden explosive.
His mental scars left him housebound for fear that something bad could happen at any moment if he went out alone.
(Credit: BBC/Auntie Productions)
Now, though, the 28-year-old is fully hands-on helping wife Lauren raise their first baby and is even in training for the Invictus Games, Prince Harry’s global competition for injured ex-servicemen.
And he has the help of strangers from around the world to thank after they gave him vital advice, confidence and support via a secret earpiece on last night’s BBC show.
They included Sister Una from Ireland, Norwegian health and fitness guru Lillian and retired New York cops Mark and Joe, who told him how he would be “twice the man” he was before, based on their recovery from witnessing first-hand the aftermath of 9/11.
Jonny said of his Afghanistan accident: “It shattered pretty much every bone in my foot.
“The hardest part of recovery has been the mental side of it. You’re just shellshocked.
“To go from being really strong and fit to being pretty useless, to sometimes a burden, that’s a horrible feeling.
“To start off with I was just a bit zombified. I was in a bit of a dark hole. I gave up, I guess.
“The fact I’m having a little girl will give me the kick to bring me back into the real world and how I am and how I used to be.”
Lauren said: “It was always a big thing to me that he was a solider. He was my protector, he looked after me, and then suddenly he was a completely different person.
“He does struggle inside. I want him to feel confident to take our child out, without me there, to the park or even to the shops down the road without feeling fear and needing someone with him.”
She had her wish come true and, six months after giving birth to their daughter, Lauren said: “Jonny’s really good with her.
“He’s really hands-on and he’s really helping me because for a while after I had the baby I couldn’t go out of the house, so he had to do that, which was a bit of a push for him but he did it.”
Jonny said: “I’ve got a lot of independence back. I feel happy in myself and I’m just going out and doing what I want to do, whereas I didn’t do that before.
“I’ve seen people just literally close the world off and give up, so I’m glad I’ve overcome that and just cracked on with life.”
Viewers took to Twitter to share their support for the former soldier.
Aww, you go Johnny!!! #secrethelpers @WeAreInvictus
— boorach2 (@boorach2) April 3, 2018
Come on Johnny you can do this we’re all behind you #veteran #army #SecretHelpers
— Johan (@jmckilts) April 3, 2018
#secrethelpers This is a positive, sweet, affirming programme. The mystery is why there’s not a bigger buzz around it. @BBCTwo
— boorach2 (@boorach2) April 3, 2018
I just love #secrethelpers on #bbc2 – warms the cockles of your heart – good practical advice and support in your ear
— Sheree Kane (@ShereeKane30) April 3, 2018
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Since filming, Jonny has become a helper himself, mentoring secondary school students.
* The Secret Helpers continues on BBC2 at 8pm next Wednesday.