A SOLDIER is recovering in hospital after an attack which left his colleague dead.
Sergeant Garry Crooks – who grew up in Larbert and Airth – was flown back to the UK from Iraq earlier this week after Sunday's incident.
He is now being treated for his wounds in the military wing at Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.
The 30-year-old joined the Army as a teenager and was on his third tour of duty in Iraq.
On Sunday afternoon, Sgt Crooks, who is a medic with the Close Support Medical Squadron, was in his base at the Shatt Al-Arab Hotel in Basra, southern Iraq, when mortars were fired.
He received shrapnel wounds to his right side after four shells landed within the compound's perimeter.
Along with Lance Corporal Dennis Brady (37) from Cumbria, Garry was rushed to hospital where the other soldier later died.
His family in the Falkirk area first learned Garry had been injured around teatime on Sunday in a phone call from his wife, Michelle (32).
She is also a medic and is currently in Belfast with the Black Watch.
Garry's mum, Teresa Crookes (51), said she was frantic when she first heard the news but relieved he was now back in the UK receiving treatment.
She said: "Michelle is travelling to Birmingham to be with him and we are waiting to hear an update from her.
''At first, it was really difficult to find out what had happened but it seems he has been injured on his right side.
''He also had blood in his lungs and that's why they couldn't fly him home straight away.
"We know he had an operation at the hospital in Iraq and think he will get another one now he is in Birmingham. But it's just a matter of waiting to see what his full injuries are."
Garry and Michelle have a son Calum (2), who was living with his mum in Belfast. He is now with Garry's older brother, Jamie (32), while Michelle stays at her husband's bedside.
Jamie is in the Royal Signal Corps and has completed several tours of duty in Belfast.
Teresa, who is currently living in Grangemouth after returning from a three-year spell in France just six weeks ago, said she was always anxious when her sons were deployed to dangerous parts of the world.
She said: "You could be sitting talking to someone with the TV on and if a report on Belfast or Basra came on you immediately switch everything else off to listen to it.
''But despite that, you never think anything is going to happen to yours. It's just been a nightmare."
Worry
Also waiting for news of Garry are his dad and sister, Jim (49) and Carly (20) of Airth, and younger brother Scott (23) of Falkirk.
Garry and Jamie got their first taste of service life when they joined the Army Cadets which were then based at Larbert High School, before moving to the Bog Road.
Teresa added: "They just loved it right from the start and Garry joined the Royal Highland Fusiliers about 11 years ago. The Army is their lives now. He never tells us anything about what he is doing or where he is because he doesn't want us to worry."
A former pupil of Carron Primary and Larbert High School, Garry excels at sports, including football, rugby and golf. He also represented the Army at cross-country skiing.
An Army spokesman said: "He is now recovering in Selly Oak Hospital. Sgt Crookes is a keen sportsman and looking forward to getting back to full fitness."
Teresa said the family had been overwhelmed by the number of people getting in touch after hearing Garry had been injured.
Thanking them all, she said: "He is still alive – we can't ask for anything more than that."

jill.buchanan@falkirkherald.co.uk