I was given contaminated blood that has blighted my life after losing a leg serving in Army

A FORMER soldier who lost his left leg was shocked to find out he had been given contaminated blood as Army medics fought to save his life.

- Ella Pickover

Brendan West had a transfusion at a British military hospital in Germany after a hit-and-run car accident while on duty in 1979.

Four decades later, aged 63, he discovered it was infected with Hepatitis C when he was turned away from donating blood.

Tests have revealed he has severe liver damage due to the virus going undetected for so long.

Mr West was with the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when his leg was "smashed to pieces" and all his ribs were broken.

Blame

He recalled: "I was becoming more and more ill...they had to amputate it.