‘Human fireball’ Private Karl Hinett who survived a petrol-bomb in Iraq reveals his astonishing 20-year transformation back to health
He was one of the unsung heroes who escaped from the brink of death after being petrol-bombed while serving the British army in Iraq in 2005.
Private Karl Hinett, 37, was just 18 when he was trapped inside a burning vehicle during an operation.
A staggering 37 percent of the skin on his body was left damaged by extreme burns — leaving him with life-long, devastating injuries that required 20-years worth of operations to repair.
The most recent procedure, yet another skin graft, only happened a year a go.
Now, he has told MailOnline of his astonishing and unexpected recovery — which has culminated in an upcoming 500km race across the arctic in collaboration with military charity SSAFA.
The gruelling course can take up to two weeks to complete, by foot or on skis, and many don’t make it.
It is a test of extreme endurance set against the harsh beauty of snow-covered forests and icy lakes.
The endless medical procedures it’s taken to get to this point has proven ‘vicious’, he said. ‘But it’s something that I accept. At the end of the day, I still have a life, which I can live and make the most of and if enduring surgery is what I have to go through then, fine, so be it.’
He was one of the unsung heroes who escaped from the brink of death and survived the petrol-bombed Warrior armoured personnel carrier in Iraq in 2005 (Pictured: fellow team mate Sgt George Long who escaped the turret ahead of him)
Private Karl Hinett, 37, was just 18 (pictured) when he was trapped inside the vehicle and was left with 37 percent of burns to his body after he was stuck burning alive inside
And while he is a on ‘life-long vicious recovery cycle’, his transformation (pictured in training) has been inspiring despite his gruelling injuries leaving him with life-long devastating impacts
Some readers will be familiar with the heart-stopping image of Private Hinett that made headlines two decades a go.
He was pictured rolling down the front of his tank covered in flames following the deadly attack by rioters.
Hinett and his fellow soldiers had embarked on a mission to free two undercover soldiers from a jail in Basra when his tank was petrol-bombed.
After freezing with sheer panic inside for 15 seconds, he was forced to grip the scolding edges of the turret and carry his burning body across the hot metal of the carrier.
While the other four soldiers in the tank escaped serious injury, Private Hinett was left with third-degree burns.
Mr Hinett, who has recently collaborated with military charity SSAFA, exclusively told MailOnline: ‘Unfortunately my recovery is going to be life-long.
‘I had surgery just 12 months ago, and it is just the nature of my injury.
‘My burns injury means the skin contracts and tightens as the scars mature, and that manipulates your joints.
‘And then I have to have surgery for fresh skin grafts. It’s just a vicious cycle.’
The worst-affected parts of his body are his face and hands, which have required multiple grafts.
After nearly being murdered by rioters during the raid on a jail in Basra – in an attempt to free two undercover soldiers – the bomb left him with third-degree burns as it set the tank-looking vehicle alight and heated the outside metal casing (pictured alight while Hinett was still inside)
For Karl to save his own life, after freezing with sheer panic inside for 15 seconds, he was forced to grip the edges of the turret and carry his burning body across the hot metal of the carrier
And after two decades of constant surgery and recovery, Hinett opened up about the ‘vicious cycle’ he endure through his life-long recovery process
‘I had surgery just 12 months ago, and it is just the nature of my injury. Having a burns injury, the skin contracts and tightens as the scars mature, but that manipulates your joints’, he added
‘And then to go to surgery so they get fresh skin grafts and stretches it out. ‘And it’s just a vicious cycle’
Hinett’s hands pictured soon after the attack: His hands and face are the worst-affected body parts.
Reflecting on the traumatic incident — which has left him with mental health scars — he said he felt invincible as a young recruit.
While he and his recruits were briefed of the risks of the operation, he thought ‘it would never happen to him’.
‘Before we go out to a deployment you have pre-deployment training, where you are briefed and all the dangers and risks are explained,’ he said.
‘Because it was such early on into the Iraq deployment, there wasn’t much experience to draw from.
‘But I also understand it’s virtually impossible to fully prepare someone for a really traumatic incident.
‘Can you tell someone how to behave when they are on fire?’
In the first 20 seconds after the attack, Mr Hinett said he felt he’d ‘lost all self control’.
‘All senses and control were stripped from me when I was on fire. I couldn’t even think of the basic actions I needed to do to survive.
‘It was only when after 15 or 20 seconds that the pain started bringing me back to my senses that I realised I needed to get out to save myself.’
‘It’s something that I accept that has to happen because at the end of the day, I still have a life.’ (Hinett pictured in surgery after the attack)
His face has been surgically grafted, as well as his hands (pictured here in 2023)
And while his hands have changed in shape over the years, his ability to physically train and enjoy life has not been impacted as he continues push his body to new limits and enjoy a family life
He said he felt invincible as a young recruit and the military could have never prepared him for what happened in 2005
He revealed that he still struggles mentally with the devastating life-long impact the attack left on him. But just looking at his eight year-old son can help him ‘switch’ his mind to more positive thoughts.
Hinett, whose grandmother also served in the military, joined the army as an infantry soldier in the Staffordshire Regiment in 2004, aged 17.
And to this day, he is still pushing his body past his limits.
Joining him in his battle against the elements next year as he attempts the 500km arctic challenge is SAS: Who Dares Wins’s Jason Fox and former Royal Marines Commando Sniper Aldo Kane.
The Montane Lapland Arctic Ultra will take place in Swedish Lapland, starting and finishing is in the small town of Överkalix.
The team will cross twice into the Arctic circle — the land of the midnight sun, and, allegedly, the home of Father Christmas.
The military men aim to raise £100,000 for The Armed Forces charity.
Mr Hinett said he never thought such a distaster would happen to him and did not expect to go through such trauma so early on in his military career
‘It all came about from a chance conversation with the team at SSAFA,’ said Hinett.
‘And I’m excited to be here with three highly respected guys from across the military about to embark on an adventure into the Arctic.
‘Although some of our stories are more extreme, there are so many in the military who need support both with their physical and mental health.
‘Whether encouraging others to take on their own challenge, or to raise money to support military families across the country, this is bigger than just a 10 day, 500km arctic expedition.’
