Hero praised by Prince Harry on Car SOS lost his legs aged just 21

Revealed: Hero veteran who was praised by Prince Harry on Car SOS lost his legs aged just 21 when he stepped on an IED planted by the Taliban in Afghanistan

• Former Lance Corporal Stephan van Niekerk is now a motivational speaker  

The Army veteran praised by Prince Harry during his guest appearance on Car SOS last night is a former rifleman who has gone from having both his legs blown off by an IED aged just 21 to cycling thousands of miles for charity. 

Former Lance Corporal Stephan van Niekerk, 36, lost his left leg at the hip, his right leg below the knee, and five fingers when he stepped on an IED in Sangin while on his second tour of the country in 2009.  

The father of four was medically discharged, and with the support of his wife, Sadie, and Army rehabilitation has reinvented himself as a motivational speaker for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans charity.

He was nominated to appear on National Geographic show Car SOS by Sadie and his best friend Ian, who wanted to reward him for his bravery and positivity by fulfilling his ambition to become an off-road driving champion with his 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

During yesterday’s episode, Stephan had his faulty vehicle repaired by the show’s team, before Harry praised him in a video message for his ‘selfless’ work inspiring young people. 

Former Lance Corporal Stephan van Niekerk, 36 – with his wife Sadie – lost both legs in an IED blast in 2009 

The 36-year-old – pictured while serving in Afghanistan – is now a motivational speaker 

Prince Harry expressed his admiration for Mr van Niekerk’s (pictured) resilience and determination and praised the Car S.O.S team for repairing his Jeep 

The former soldier, from Taunton in Devon, joined 3rd Battalion, the Rifles, at the age of 21 before being caught in the IED blast seven years later. 

Recalling the incident during an interview with the Somerset County Gazette, he said: ‘We were taking the fight to the enemy, looking for Taliban, weapons, drugs or bomb-making equipment. 

‘The patrol was getting ready to return to base and as I walked over to one of the guys I was hit by the device.

“Immediately afterwards I was conscious and was assessing myself. I could see my legs were blown off.

“There was a lot of confusion. I can’t remember feeling any pain but there was bone sticking out of my left leg. The guys got me out of there and before I knew it I was in Camp Bastion.”

Sadie heard the news that same night from one of Stephan’s military colleagues. 

The former soldier, from Taunton in Devon, joined 3rd Battalion, the Rifles, at the age of 21 before being caught in the IED blast seven years later

He has reinvented himself as a motivational speaker for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans charity

After a gruelling period of rehabilitation, Stephan now combines inspirational speaking with carrying out feats of endurance for charity, including a 2,745 mile cycle ride from Canada to Mexico for Blesma, a charity for limbless veterans. 

After the vehicle restoration was shown to Mr Van Niekerk last night, Harry said in a video message: ‘Stephan, congratulations. I hope at this point you’re sitting in your brand new, or certainly what looks like a brand new Jeep.

‘Good on you mate, well done, fully, fully, fully deserved. I can’t think of anyone that deserves this more than you.’

Harry is known for his work supporting injured veterans, and helped set up the Invictus Games – an event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women. 

Addressing Stephan, he added: ‘After getting injured at such a young age after two tours of Afghanistan, you are the definition of inspiration because you are not defined by your injury. You are defined by your selflessness to others, to your community, your inspirational talks to young people.

‘And, of course, to your four kids, and your amazing wife Sadie, who no doubt has got you this far. So full respect, well done you, and I heard, someone told me, that you’re planning to cycle from Canada to Mexico – just a mere 2,745 miles, I think.

Mr van Niekerk regularly performs daring challenges for charity 

Harry appearing on the programme from his home in Montecito, California 

‘Good luck with that, I know you’re going to do it, I know you’re going to smash it. I know you’re going to raise a lot of money for Blesma as well. Other than that, mate, just a huge congratulations. And thank you, thank you for your service. Thank you for your continued service and commitment to others.

‘I’m sure your whole family is incredibly proud of you. I’m proud of you. We’re all proud of you… there’s a reason you were chosen for this. So yeah, saddle up and enjoy your new wheels. And then make sure that you get as fit as you can for this next huge adventure that’s coming your way and then you can smash that.

‘And at the end of that. I would love to meet you even if it’s over a Zoom, but yeah, full respect, mate. Well done, love it and catch you soon, cheers.’

The duke, who recorded the clip last year at his home in the US, was a battlefield air controller when he first went on a ten-week tour of duty in 2007 fighting the Taliban in Helmand province.

Mr van Niekerk had bought himself a used Jeep Grand Cherokee (pictured), which had the potential to be a contender, but it was off the road due to persistent mechanical problems

Harry expressed his admiration for Stephan’s resilience and determination and praised the Car SOS team for their repair work

He then retrained and qualified as an Apache helicopter pilot and in September 2012, he returned to Afghanistan for a second time.

The Jeep was restored by presenters Tim Shaw and Fuzz Townshend to competition-level standards, modified for disabilities, and has a roll cage, high lift axle kit and wheel arch extensions as well as having the suspension upgraded.

Mr Van Niekerk said Harry’s message was ‘insane’ and he could not believe he was talking about him.

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