A SOLDIER who was seriously injured in Afghanistan earlier this year will officially open a new state-of-the-art gym and rehabilitation centre in Tidworth on Thursday.
Sgt Gavin Harvey, of 6 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, will unveil a plaque at the purpose-built physical and recreation training centre at Tidworth Garrison.
Sgt Harvey, 28, lost both legs and suffered serious pelvic injuries after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device in Helmand Province on August 4, but he has made a miraculously quick recovery and is now at Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Surrey.
The new facility at Tidworth will offer soldiers a hi-tech gym for physical training and fitness, together with a specialist environment to recover from injuries sustained on operations, or in accidents or playing sport.
The building was part of Project Allenby/Connaught, an £8billion 35-year contract with Aspire Defence Limited, which is providing modern, fully-serviced living and working accommodation for 20 per cent of the British Army in the Salisbury Plain and Aldershot Garrisons.
It has a multi-purpose training area, which can be used for sports ranging from badminton to football, and a gym with weight training equipment and cycling machines with built-in television screens. There is also a separate training area with spinning machines for cardio-vascular work.
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