Read the full article in The Sun here.
It still feels surreal to see my story — “Brave British soldier saves boy’s face” — told in national newspapers like The Sun. To me, it was never about being called a hero. It was about a promise I made in Bosnia in 2003, a promise that changed both my life and the life of a four-year-old boy named Stefan Savic.
The day I met Stefan
I was serving in Bosnia as a NATO peacekeeper when I was shown a photograph that stopped me in my tracks. It was of Stefan, a little boy born with a severe craniofacial cleft. His condition pushed his eyes apart, deformed his nose, and left him with holes in his skull. Without urgent surgery, his life expectancy was short.
In that moment, I felt a connection. I couldn’t just walk away. That’s when my journey to help him began.
Raising hope, pound by pound
The Sun headline “Brave British soldier saves boy’s face” might sound dramatic, but the truth is that this wasn’t a one-off act. It was 13 years of fundraising, persistence, and community support.
From football matches in Bosnia, to rattling tins outside Asda, to walking 76.9 miles backwards across Dorset — every pound raised brought Stefan closer to life-saving treatment. Over time, more than £160,000 was raised, and five major surgeries were carried out in the UK.
I will always be indebted to Professor David Dunaway CBE and his incredible surgical team at Great Ormond Street Hospital, who never once charged a penny for their work.
Watching a transformation
To sit by Stefan’s hospital bed and watch him go through hours of reconstructive surgery was agonising. The risk of blindness, paralysis, or even death was very real.
But what I remember most is Stefan’s courage. He never once let his condition define him. Today, he’s 27 years old, healthy, talented, and part of a folk music group that tours Bosnia. Seeing him live life to the full makes every moment of those fundraising years worthwhile.
The impact on my own life
What many people don’t realise is that helping Stefan saved me too. As a soldier, I had already been carrying the weight of PTSD. Fundraising gave me a purpose when I was struggling.
Later, when my own daughter Freya was diagnosed with scoliosis and underwent a six-hour spinal surgery, I finally understood what Stefan’s parents went through. That’s why every royalty from my book, Soldier of Conscience, goes towards scoliosis support and children’s charities.
Why I keep telling this story
The phrase “Brave British soldier saves boy’s face” has followed me for years, but the truth is that this was never just about me. It was about teamwork, compassion, and the belief that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they refuse to give up.
Every time I see Stefan smile, I’m reminded of the power of humanity — and of a promise kept.
Read more
- The Sun: Brave British soldier saves boy’s face
- My book: Soldier of Conscience (Pen & Sword) – royalties donated to @scoliosis_sr and children’s charities
