Mark Ormrod of 40 Commando was blown up by a landmine during a foot patrol in Helmand province on Christmas Eve. The 24-year-old has spent the last three months in intensive care and rehabilitation and will return soon to his home in Plymouth. But despite the extensive nature of his injuries, Ormrod has been offered £214,000 in compensation, rather than the maximum MoD package of £285,000.

Ormrod, who is appealing against the decision, says he wants to stay with the Marines. 'Obviously I can't go on the front line, but there are jobs I could do involving admin,' he said. 'As long as I can stay with the lads - it's like a family.'

'This hasn't changed me at all,' he told his local paper, the Herald. 'I've just got to get on with it. I just want to marry Becky and move into my house.'

Ormrod was deployed to Afghanistan last October and stationed with 40 Commando at Forward Operating Base Robinson in southern Helmand.

He was out on a morning foot patrol with 11 other marines when he stepped on the mine, which was strapped to a Chinese 107 rocket, both covered by sand and mud after a heavy rainfall.

'There was a big blast and lots of smoke,' he said. 'One minute you're there and then there's a bang, like someone was rattling my brain around. The next thing I know I'm on the floor, ripped open. Everything felt numb, as if I had pins and needles. It was surreal, like a dream.' His first words to the medic who told him he had suffered some lower-leg damage, were: 'No shit; I think my dancing days are over.'