As heroic LADs go, Hoshyar Ali Abdul is certainly up there with the best them.
Almost 30 years ago, in 1989, he lost his first leg to a landmine, five years later, the second was blown off.
He was part of the Peshmerga army who fought Saddam Hussein's reign of terror in Iraq - they are the ones now fighting against the so-called Islamic State.
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After losing leg number one, Hoshyar went around Kurdistan dismantling the weapons that littered the countryside.
Since then, he's gone on to deactivate around two million, yes, TWO MILLION, landmines.
Credit: SWNS
His hard work is known throughout the East. His prosthetic legs were gifted by the Japanese government, who helped to make sure that his skills continue to be utilised.
Whether brave or stupid, Hoshyar takes the bombs apart in his family home. He lives with his wife Gelas, and their two-year-old son Barez.
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"When I lost my second leg I thought I was done for," he said.
"Japan gave me another leg so that I can serve my country and I thank them."
Pretty sure your country thanks YOU too, Hoshyar.
Credit: SWNS
He's self-taught and has been doing the role for over 20 years, developing his skills of dismantling arms - something he learned in the mountains between Iraq and Kurdistan. An area plighted with explosives.
Now it's home that's covered with them, all be dead ones. There's a collection of AK-47 assault rifles, a Baretta pistol, and landmines made in Germany (33,000 of them), Italy and the US. He's also got 2,000 shells used by ISIS - some which had contained chemicals.
He won't stop though, particularly as his family have been affected by the use of chemical weapons.
His parents and sisters were among the victims of such ammunition under the reign of Saddam Hussein, in his genocidal campaign known as Anfal.
"Human lives are getting cheaper," said Hoshyar. "Chemical weapons still exist in this world, and this adds more pain to my life."
Credit: SWNS
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Hoshyar applies all his accumulated knowledge when he encounters new weapons. In the three years between the loss of the first and second leg, he travelled all over the country learning how to dismantle new devices.
It's a skill he wants to pass on to his children.
He said: "I do this in the name of humanity, and in the name of God. How can I stop?"
And although he talks of humanity, it's not just humans which he is saving. His D.I.Y training, learned in the Iran-Iraq war so him save animals too.
A herd of 16 grazing cows strayed into a minefield in a nearby village, and many them had already been damaged in warfare.
Clearance agencies demanded a helicopter should be scrambled, but Hoshyar took a simpler approach.
Credit: SWNS
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He said: "I went on a donkey for free and rescued the cows before more where hurt.
"When I dismantle a mine, I feel I have saved a life.
"If I was from Europe, I would have the Nobel Peace Prize."
It can be agreed that his patriotism, despite everything his country and himself have been through, is of the highest level.
There is no doubt Hoshyar's work, even in the absolute face of adversity, has saved countless numbers of lives.Featured Image Credit: SWNS
Topics: Inspirational