A TOUGH Royal Marine, shot by the Taliban while patrolling Afghanistan's fiercely contested Helmand province, has spoken of the moment he was forced to run under heavy fire with a shattered ankle.

Ben Deakin, a 21-year-old machine gunner from 40 Commando, told his story in a bid to show civilians what his friends are up against in the searing heat of Afghanistan.

British forces in Helmand are locked in one of their toughest fights since the Second World War, with forward units coming under heavy fire daily.

Senior officers have warned personnel are being pushed to the limits, with little understanding or support coming from the home front.

Ben, from Studland - who was on his first tour of Helmand after winning the coveted green beret in January - was heavily laden with kit, his general purpose machine gun and two-and-a-half stones of body armour when he set off on a routine clearance patrol last month.

Given the task of pushing enemy forces from the Kajaki Dam - essential for supplying the Afghan people with electricity - his patrol eventually took up defensive positions overlooking the enemy.

Ben, who climbed a roof with two marine pals, Matty and Clarky, said: "Suddenly we heard the crack and thump of rounds over our heads. For those not in the know, it's deafening when they are near you.

"So we were on the roof taking cover, laughing as they fired at us. Every time Clarky poked his head round trying to find a firing point, we were shot at.

"Suddenly, bang, I heard Matty screaming and noticed he had been shot - I literally chucked him down through a hole in the roof into the rubble below and jumped off after him."

Matty had been hit in the leg and foot and Ben was also shot in the foot. He said: "With all the adrenaline in me, I hadn't noticed."

Clarky, who took hits to both legs, was dragged down by colleagues seconds later.

An engineer corporal attached to the marine unit had also been shot on the leg, so all three were stretchered off the battlefield.

Ben said: "There was blood everywhere. It was like a Hollywood Vietnam movie."

While fellow marines provided cover, the injured men were carried across open ground under withering enemy fire.

Ben said: "Someone grabbed me and said Come on Deaks, we are going for it son.' I was not happy hearing enemy fire coming past my head, so I gritted my teeth and let the adrenaline help me sprint with a shot and broken ankle.

"Finally I got to a hole in the ground where we had arranged to meet the sergeant major."

While the men were being evacuated by helicopter, medics gave Ben laughing gas.

He recalled: "Within a further few minutes I was laughing, taking the mick out of Matty and Clarky. We kept saying Can everyone stop getting shot?' like the film Lock Stock.

"Matty and I were in hysterics. The army lads in the quick reaction force thought we were nuts. We were shot but still taking the mick out of each other."

Ben was later flown back to the UK and his ankle was operated on at a Birmingham hospital.

All four young men were lucky to survive but now face a gruelling rehabilitation.

Ben said: "The Prime Minister came to visit me. Trust him to visit the moment I came back from the operating theatre.

"I was still coming round from the anaesthetic and said All right, Gordon mate?' after being told to call him sir.

"I'm now back home doing rehabilitation which is an anti-climax to say the least.

"After all, I am a Royal Marine Commando and I want to be back out there doing the job I am trained for with my friends and colleagues."