A CITY soldier is to be flown home from Afghanistan after being blown up in a Taliban attack.

Lincoln-born Sergeant Adam Porter, 30, was injured when his armoured vehicle hit a roadside bomb as he travelled near the British army base at Camp Bastion.

He was blown out of the vehicle by the force of the explosion and knocked unconscious.

He suffered severe eardrum damage and, as a result, has very little hearing.

Sgt Porter, of the IV Regiment of the Royal Artillery, said: "Someone was definitely watching out for us that day – I could be dead.

"I was just hitching a lift back to base when the Jackal I was in ran over an IED (improvised explosive device).

"The explosion blew me right out of the vehicle and on to the side of the road.

"I was knocked out and woke up without my hearing."

Based at Catterick in North Yorkshire, Sgt Porter was born in Lincoln and his father served at RAF Coningsby.

His regiment is responsible for finding Taliban fighters and letting the gunners know where they are.

He said: "We have lost people. It's hard to talk about, really."

Sgt Porter said he missed his family while away, but was a determined solider.

He said: "From being a kid, I only ever wanted to be in the army. My dad was based at RAF Coningsby when I was born and I knew what the military is like.

"I miss my daughter Olivia Rose and my wife Claire when I'm out here, but after my hearing comes back or I have an operation, I will be keen to come back out."