A FORMER soldier, who was injured in a bomb blast in Afghanistan, is being helped on the road to recovery by Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre.

The centre at Garon Park has given 24-year-old Aaron Hobbs a year’s free membership and a personal trainer to help with injuries caused by a bomb which exploded under his vehicle while he was on tour with the Queens Royal Lancers in 2010.

Aaron had just turned 20 when the vehicle he was travelling in blew up, killing the driver AndrewHowarth, also 20, and his commander Andy Jones who was in his thirties. Aaron was left with a fractured spine and hip, but mercifully survived the blast.

His long fight back to health has included treatment for post traumatic stress disorder and intensive physiotherapy at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Headley, Surrey, but he was left with stiffness and pain which only allows him to work two days a week at Waitrose.

Just one month into his training regime with specialist trainer Janet Harvey at the centre in Eastern Avenue, Aaron’s mobility has already improved.

He said: “I still have problems and can only work part-time because I can’t overdo it. I need to strengthen my core muscles to make my back stronger. I’m always in pain with my back.

“I couldn’t afford to go to the gym so I asked Help for Heroes if they could do anything for me.

They got in touch with the leisure centre and they gave me a year’s free membership and a personal trainer.

“She’s been amazing. I couldn’t ask for better. My balance is already improving.”

Aaron from Station Avenue, Southend was medically discharged from the Army in 2012, dashing his hopes of a military career. He now hopes to get strong enough to become a football coach.

He added: “I volunteer with Southend United on the community scheme two days a week and hope this will be a way forward for me once I’m strong enough.”

Janet, 45, from Southend, is specially trained to deal with traumatic injuries and to work with people who have had heart attacks. She said: “We’ve been working on Aaron’s core muscles to help support his spine where it was fused and to strengthen his legs. He’s amazing considering what he went through. He can walk, cycle and do cross training.

We were asked if we could help and we’re very happy to do so.”