legs were blown off by a roadside bomb is thrilled to be expecting a 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 against all odds after scientists managed to extract and freeze his sperm.

Shaun Stocker, 25, from Wrexham, North Wales, thought he’d never father a child after suffering horrific injuries during an Afghanistan tour in 2010.

The explosion claimed both of his legs and testicles, initially left him blind, and severely damaged his arms and hands.

But amazingly, during surgery to save Mr Stocker’s life, scientists were able to retrieve and freeze his sperm so that one day he could have children.

Now his fiancé, Persia Haghighi, 23, is pregnant after their first IVF attempt and the couples’ son is due to be born on Christmas Day.

Shaun Stocker, 25, thought he’d never father a child after suffering horrific injuries in Afghanistan in 2010. But he is now expecting a 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚢 with his fiancé, Persia Haghighi, 23, after scientists froze his sperm

The explosion claimed both of Mr Stockers’s legs and testicles, left him blind initially and severely damaged his arms and hands. He is pictured before becoming injured (left) and after the blast (right)

Mr Stocker said: ‘When I was first injured one of the hardest things to deal with was the thought that I’d never be able to have kids of my own.

‘When I woke up I was blind, both of my legs had to be amputated above the knee as well as severely damaged shoulder, arms, hands and eardrums.

‘When I was told I’d lost my testicles too it was difficult thinking that I may never have a family.

‘But scientists were able to extract and freeze my sperm so that one day I could be the biological father of my own children.’

After his accident, Mr Stocker befriended Miss Haghighi and the couple started dating in 2013.

‘Meeting Persia really changed my life,’ he said. ‘She’s really helped me to be happy with who I am and now that we’ll be having a son it’s the perfect end to a tough few years.

‘Just knowing that there was a chance I’d be able to have children of my own one day was the one thing that helped me to come to terms with my injuries.

‘When my son’s born I’ll be able to close the recovery chapter of my life and start focusing on raising my own family.’

Mr Stocker was only six days away from the end of his tour with the British Army in Afghanistan when his injuries occurred.

His regiment was told they had to go on one last mission.

During the patrol, Mr Stocker went ahead to investigate a dried-up stash of poppies and discovered an unexploded grenade.

In 2010 the Queen awarded Mr Stocker with an Afghanistan Campaign medal during a service for his efforts with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Welsh Regiment

Mr Stocker has had more than 50 operations, including pioneering surgery in Australia to fit prosthetic legs to the remaining bones in his upper legs in 2014

He had been told to take it back to the army base for forensic examining when he trod on an improvised explosive device (IED), a homemade bomb usually found on roadsides.

‘After soon as I stepped on the IED it went off.

‘I couldn’t see or hear anything, all I could feel was the pain from my dislocated shoulder,’ he said.

‘The pain was so horrific, I kept fading in and out of consciousness and thought I was going to die.

‘One of the last things I was remember was someone say that I was a double amputee.

‘I was in a medically induced coma for eight weeks before I woke up and realised the extent of the damages I’d suffered.’

When I was told I’d lost my testicles it was difficult thinking that I may never have a familyShaun Stocker, 25, who was injured by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan 2010

Mr Stocker was flown from Afghanistan to Selly Oak hospital in Birmingham where he was given the news he had lost both of his legs, his testicles and may never see again.

He also suffered blast injuries to his hand, arm, dislocated his shoulder and perforated eardrums during the blast.

Since the blast, he has undergone more than 50 operations including pioneering surgery last year in Australia to fit prosthetic legs to the remaining bone in his upper legs.

Doctors have been able to recover 30 per cent of the vision in his right eye, following five operations.

Mr Stocker said: ‘Instead of coming home from Afghanistan filled with pride, I was blind and without legs with so many challenges ahead of me.

‘Before I had my prosthetics fitted I had to learn to use my wheelchair with an impaired shoulder and only one full hand.

‘When doctors brought back 30 per cent of my eyesight things were made easier as I could make out the shape of a door and objects around me.

‘After that my prosthetics were a challenge to get used to as I still can’t see so had to judge the steepness of a hill or a slope by the terrain beneath my feet.

Miss Haghighi said Mr Stocker will be an ‘amazing dad’ and deserves to tell his children about his experiences. She added: We’re so thankful that we had this chance to have children’

‘I’ve also had to become very good at making a mental map of where I’m walking but am very good at remembering directions too.’

In 2010, the Queen awarded Mr Stocker with an Afghanistan Campaign medal during a service for his efforts with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Welsh Regiment.

Three years later he started dating his Miss Haghighi, whom met after his accident.

The couple started IVF treatment in March this year and are now expecting their son to be born on Christmas Day.

Miss Haghighi, who works in retail, said: ‘It was really important when Shaun found out about his injuries that he would have a chance at having children of his own through IVF.

We’re so thankful that we had this chance to have childrenPersia Haghighi, Mr Stocker’s fiancé

‘If the operation to save Shaun’s sperm hadn’t been carried out, I know it would have affected him in a very bad way.

‘He’s going to be an amazing dad and deserves to tell his kids about his experiences and everything he’s learned. We’re so thankful that we had this chance to have children.’

The couple have decided to name their son Theo Jackson – after Dr Jackson Kirkman-Brown, the scientists who removed and froze Mr Stocker’s sperm.

Dr Kirkman-Brown said: ‘The team recognised that sperm salvage following blast injury required a novel approach to support those with serious genital injuries and our care pathways were developed accordingly.

‘This has changed the paradigm of management of genital injuries, with our UK systems now being regarded as an exemplar worldwide.

‘Personally the most rewarding aspect has been seeing the difference that our work has made to individuals and their families.’

Mr Stocker is fundraising with a 100km charity walk for Blind Veterans UK – to donate visit www.justgiving.com/shaunstocker or text BVuk50 followed by the amount to 70070.