A NEW £5.8million super-gym and rehabilitation centre was officially opened on Thursday by a local soldier who lost his legs in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Gavin Harvey, 28, of 6 Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME), suffered horrific injuries when his armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb on August 4.

Sgt Harvey was at Tidworth Camp with his wife Kerry and daughters Ella, age two, and one-year-old Millie, to unveil a plaque at the new facility, which has a state-of-the-art gym and a large multi-purpose training area for sports.

There has been a regional rehabilitation centre at Bulford since 2003, assessing soldiers’ injuries and running three-week full-time rehab courses, where they do strength training, cardiovascular exercise and swimming sessions, and there is also an education element to the course. Moving to the new building means better equipment and a bigger space, allowing them to increase the number of soldiers they can take in a rehab course from 30 to 40, which is vital when 25 per cent of the Army is based in Wiltshire.

The super-gym has been open for a month and the first rehab course in the new building has just been successfully completed.

Garrison commander Colonel Paddy Tabor spoke before the plaque was unveiled. He said: “This signature building demonstrates the army’s commitment to make life for soldiers better.”

He said the rehabilitation centre would span the gap between primary and secondary care and play a major role for the garrison.

He introduced Sgt Harvey saying his speed of recovery was due to his determination, positive attitude and bravery.

“He is an example of everything about the British soldier fighting in Afghanistan today and an inspiration to all of those who meet him.”

Sgt Harvey has made a miraculous recovery from his injuries – he was expected to stay at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham for six months, but was discharged after two and is now dividing his time between his family home in Bulford and stints of rehab at Headley Court in Surrey.

He is keen to return to service with the REME as soon as possible and is looking forward to using the new super-gym then to keep up his fitness.

“I haven’t seen anything as good as this, other than Headley Court,” he said.

“You’re getting the best of the best equipment and all the personal trainers. The sheer fitness I’ve been given by the Army and great facilities like this at my fingertips, it’s brilliant. I think if you have spare time and the facilities like this, I would seriously recommend using it as much as you can.”

But for now Sgt Harvey is looking forward to some time off from rehabilitation so he can spend Christmas with his family.