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A tribute to Heroes Past and Present
Labels: Holidays4Heroes, Jan telensky
A Hero from any section of the Forces can be nominated. Special consideration is given to those who will also benefit from the treatments in AquaCity. The Recipients Receive! A trip to AquaCity in Poprad. Flights to and from London/Luton are provided as is food and accommodation in AquaCity. The recipient, together with his/her partner and two children, are also free to use the extensive facilities in AquaCity as guests of this unique centre. A doctor is on hand to check the recipients and the families before treatments such as Cryotherapy. Recipients are encouraged to use all the treatment areas and gain all the benefits to assist an enhanced recovery from injuries.
Patron, Owner and CEO of Aquacity, Mr Jan Telensky
Project Coordinator and Nominations initial contact Major Terry Butterworth
Project Coordinator AquaCity Mr Richard Pichonsky
Injuries
SAC Kenny Gibson
After serving for 5 years I was due to leave the Military on the 10th August 2007, but due to the decreasing manpower of the RAF Regt i agreed to extend my time by 3 months to assist 51 Sqn on their tour of Afghanistan. On the 29th of Aug with only 10 days left of an intense 6-month tour and of course my career we were tasked with a 13 hr patrol of the north east of Kandahar Airfield. Whilst returning to camp we were further tasked with a tesseral on the west side. As we were clearing the ground our front vehicle got bogged in, and as the driver of the second vehicle it was my job to pull it out. After the surrounding area had been cleared on foot I was given the all clear to move in. I crossed the ditch the WMIK was stuck in, pulled him out, he then crossed back over my tracks and when I re-crossed the SAME tracks my rear wheels triggered a pressure pad IED!! After about 15 mins I regained consciousness and realised what had happened. I could hear the rounds and grenades going off that were in the burning vehicle. I tried to get up but couldn’t move and could hardly breathe, the flt medics were doing their thing and after about 40 mins a Blackhawk joined the circling Apache and landed to pick us up. As a P1 casualty I was first on, but as they moved the stretcher I blacked out again with the pain. When I came to this time I was in a cat scan machine on base. I was given some morphine and woke up 2 hrs later. As I woke I was given the news that the young SAC in the back had been killed along with the interpreter. My other passenger survived with a broken neck and fractured skull. My injuries were; 2 wedge fractures in my spine, smashed pelvis, 6 broken ribs, both kneecaps damaged, a cracked left ankle and my lungs only function to about half the capacity. I was medivac'd out the following day and taken straight to Sellyoak hospital in Birmingham where my family were taken. After spending 2-3 weeks there I was transferred to Glasgow before having to spend a month at Headly Court. Since then I am going through an intense physiotherapy programme and have just recently been married.
Giving Heroes a family break in AquaCity so unique that it uses freely available natural energy to heat and power its hotels, waterpark, spa, restaurant, bars, fitness and conference centres, saving money by using green energy, at the same time as conserving the environment. Guests can minimise their carbon footprint, while still enjoying the highest standards of service. Truly green luxury.
The British Ambassador visits
LCpl Christopher O’Malley (left) & SAC Kenny Gibson (Right) meet the CEO of AquaCity & The British Ambassador
A traditional welcome for the Heroes in AquaCity
See Inside AquaCity
Click on the AquaCity Logo to find out more about the facilities in AquaCity Poprad
In the beginning
Relaxing in AquaCity
SAC Kenny Gibson and family
Their first holiday for five years
Relaxing in the pools
Specialist Treatments
AquaCity Cryotherapy
Queen Elizabeth II
Holidays4Heroes guests sitting behind the Queen in Poprad
Return to Holidays4Heroes
