\u201cI had served on two tours of Iraq and one of Afghanistan,\u201d explains Stuart. \u201cThe accident happened while I was on a training exercise with the Royal Tank Regiment. We had a breach explosion inside the tank and the two friends who were beside me were killed instantly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very lucky to be the sole survivor but was so badly wounded that it was touch-and-go as to whether I would make it through.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stuart suffered extreme burns and lost an ear and several fingers. His injuries were so severe that he spent five weeks in a coma and would need two years of demanding rehabilitation.<\/p>\n
Unlocking a new career and purpose<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Disabled](\"https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/blogs\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stuart-L1-225x300.jpg\")
In January 2020, three years after the accident, Stuart was medically discharged from the Army and had to leave behind the only world he knew.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe career I loved had been brought to a sudden halt. The military was my life,\u201d he said. \u201cI was distraught and felt my life was meaningless.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was during his ongoing rehab that Stuart found a glimmer of hope. A marine mentioned The Open University\u2019s Disabled Veterans\u2019 Scholarships Fund<\/a><\/strong>, which offers veterans like Stuart fully funded qualifications and ongoing disability support.<\/p>\nThe idea for a new career and a new purpose was born.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had never been academic, didn\u2019t enjoy my schooling and so I thought I didn\u2019t stand a chance of being accepted for a scholarship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In January 2020, three years after the accident, Stuart was medically discharged from the Army and had to leave behind the only world he knew.<\/p>\nThe idea for a new career and a new purpose was born.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had never been academic, didn\u2019t enjoy my schooling and so I thought I didn\u2019t stand a chance of being accepted for a scholarship,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n