Royal Marine Back In Uniform Just Months After Losing His Leg
Tue Feb 03 2026
Nicholas Gibbons was still a teenager when was deployed to Afghanistan as a Royal Marine. One night while on patrol, an IED blast claimed the lower half of his right leg. After enduring five operations to repair the remainder of his limb and rehabilitation, Nick was fitted with a prosthetic leg and put his uniform back on, returning to training just three months later. He was deployed as an amputee to a non-combat zone, even competing in the Warrior Games. But after he was eventually medically discharged from the military, Nick lost drive and direction, finding himself in prison.
In this conversation, Nick details the warning signs he ignored that led him to spiral after leaving the Marines, how he has now turned his life around, and the process of finding a renewed purpose in life.
LINKS
More on the 'Once, We Were Warriors' documentary Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Nicholas Gibbons was still a teenager when was deployed to Afghanistan as a Royal Marine. One night while on patrol, an IED blast claimed the lower half of his right leg. After enduring five operations to repair the remainder of his limb and rehabilitation, Nick was fitted with a prosthetic leg and put his uniform back on, returning to training just three months later. He was deployed as an amputee to a non-combat zone, even competing in the Warrior Games. But after he was eventually medically discharged from the military, Nick lost drive and direction, finding himself in prison. In this conversation, Nick details the warning signs he ignored that led him to spiral after leaving the Marines, how he has now turned his life around, and the process of finding a renewed purpose in life. LINKS More on the 'Once, We Were Warriors' documentary Follow Ant on Instagram, X, and Facebook Learn more about Ant on his website antmiddleton.com Follow Nova Podcasts on Instagram for videos from the podcast and behind the scenes content – @novapodcastsofficial. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.