British aid worker who lost limbs in Ukraine may have to fund his own prosthetics

A British aid worker who lost his arm and leg in an attack on Ukraine may have to fund his own prosthetics after he was hit by a drone while completing a civilian evacuation on the front line.

- BRYONY GOOCH

Edward “Eddy” Scott works for Base UA, which provides shelter and helps evacuate people in combat zones, and was seriously injured when the team’s armoured vehicle was hit in Pokrovsk in January. He had to have his left arm and leg amputated.

Once the 28-year-old from Dorset leaves initial care, he will go to a post-surgical rehabilitation centre, where he will get plastic surgery to reshape his stumps and have prosthetics fitted. Base UA said it remains “up in the air” about how these prosthetics would be funded, as the serious nature of Mr Scott’s injuries means he may require extremely high-quality equipment which is not provided as standard.

Keen to share the reality of the front line, Mr Scott told The Independent: “The last time I went in [to Pokrovsk], it was getting worse. It gets worse every time we go in, every day there’s more houses destroyed.”

“The Ukrainians are tough – they know what they’re facing. They either want to leave or they don’t want to leave, there’s no in-between.” He countered beliefs those who refused to leave their homes during evacuations were sympathizers and collaborators with the Russians.

Mr Scott added: “There’s an incredible connection to the land. When we’ve come to people’s houses, we’ve had people kissing their houses goodbye because they’ve lived in that house for their entire life. It’s their property; it’s their whole being.”