Meeting with Jaco Van Gass – Walking with the Wounded
Published: 12/03/2019
We were thrilled to meet Jaco Van Gass at the the recent Right at Home Annual Conference near Warwick.
Jaco was born in South Africa. At the age of 20, he flew to England hoping to follow his dream of joining the British Armed Forces. By mid 2007, Jaco had completed his training and he joined the well respected Parachute Regiment.
It was during Jaco’s second tour of Afghanistan in 2009, after five and a half months and with just two weeks to go when Jaco sustained severe life changing injuries. Jaco and his platoon were engaged by Enemy Forces and after an intense 45 minute fire fight, Jaco was hit by an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade). The injuries he sustained included the loss of his left arm at the elbow, a collapsed left lung, shrapnel wounds to his left side, punctured internal organs, blast wounds to upper thigh, a broken tibia and a fractured knee. Jaco had 11 operations and intense rehabilitation and incredibly, he survived.
His career dream of being in the army was over. Despite the physical and mental trauma endured, Jaco wasn’t going to let his injuries stop him. He became a first-class downhill skier, and multiple marathon runner, completing the New York Marathon and the Safaricom Half Marathon in Kenya – regarded as one of the hardest in the world.
His career dream of being in the army was over. Despite the physical and mental trauma endured, Jaco wasn’t going to let his injuries stop him. He became a first-class downhill skier, and multiple marathon runner, completing the New York Marathon and the Safaricom Half Marathon in Kenya – regarded as one of the hardest in the world.
He was a member of the record-breaking team of wounded soldiers to trek unsupported to the North Pole (joined by Prince Harry), and he’s also climbed Alaska’s 6000m Mt Denali. In 2012 with the WWTW team, Jaco attempted Everest (narrowly missing the summit due to adverse weather). He has overcome adversity and is beyond injury.
Jaco has his own website here, and is involved with the Walking with the Wounded charity, click the link for more details.
