A WAR hero who was left unable to have children after he lost both legs in a Taliban bomb blast has tied the knot with his fiancée in an emotional wedding ceremony.

Army Sergeant Rick Clements, 31, had promised to marry girlfriend of eighteen months, Leanne Isaacs, when he was called up for a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in April last year.

But just a month later care-worker Leanne, 28, received a devastating phone call to say that her boyfriend was fighting for his life after stepping on a concealed landmine while leading a routine foot patrol in the Helmand Province.

The soldier - who has been with the 1st Battalion Duke of Lancaster regiment for the past 14 years and has served in Iraq - had suffered some of the 'worst injuries' doctors had ever seen as his legs were blown off and his arm severely mutilated.

Medics battled to save Rick's life before he was transferred to Selly Oak in Birmingham two days later - dying twice on the plane ride home - as Leanne and his parents raced to his side.

He spent three weeks in a coma and came round to be told that, not only had he lost his limbs, but that he would never be able to father children and he feared his injuries may prove too much for his girlfriend.

But loyal Leanne vowed to stand by her man, supporting him through seven months in hospital and rehabilitation, and the couple got engaged officially in December.

On Saturday proud bridegroom Rick donned his army blues while bride Leanne wore a flowing white gown as they married in a civil ceremony for a hundred family and friends, including fellow soldiers.

Rick, from Chatburn, said, "This the happiest day of my life. Seeing so many of the soldiers I owe my life to here with me is such an honour. Despite everything, I feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world."

Leanne said, "I'm so happy that we made it down the aisle after everything we've been through. Rick is the man for me - I've not ever looked at any other man since we've been together and I never will."

Rick was stationed at Catterick Garrison in 2008 when he began dating Leanne and treated her two children, Erin, nine, and Kyle, six, as his own.

When he was sent on tour in April 2010 Leanne feared for his safety, but he assured her he would be back to marry her.

Rick said: "I had a photo of us all in my barracks. I cherished those moments when I could hear Leanne's voice. I wrote to her every day, it was my time out."

But on May 27 Rick was on patrol near Nad e'Ali in Southern Afghanistan, when he stood on the enemy IED, buried in the dirt.

Rick said: "I remember the explosion but it just felt like a 'puff' to me and then I was lying down.

"I didn't feel any pain; I think it was the adrenaline running around my body.

"I never felt at that moment I was going to die. Leanne was in my thoughts at that point because I had promised her that I'd get back to her and the kids safely. I suppose it spurred me on to stay strong.

"Both legs were blown straight off and my right arm was damaged as well. I got back to the control base and asked one of my mates to tell me if my legs and had gone and not to lie to me. I don't think it hit me properly until I saw for myself though."

Rick slipped into a coma as doctors worked to stabilise his wounds and prepared him for the emergency transfer back to the UK.

Recalling the moment she heard the devastating news from Rick's step-dad, Graham Plant, and mum, Kay, Leanne said: "I kept saying to his dad on the phone 'Have I lost him? Is he dead?'

"I met him at Selly Oak. Within five minutes of him arriving at intensive care I went in to see him. He was almost twice the size, all swollen up with tubes all over the place. I just broke down and thought that it was the end."

Rick came round three weeks later and when the extent of his life-changing injuries hit home, he selflessly encouraged his girlfriend to leave him.

Rick said: "It was like a death in the family. I said that she should go as she'd be better off without me.

"We'd discussed having kids before, as well as marriage, and I always thought that I'd have at least one with her.

"I suppose being a second dad to her kids has helped me cope with that. I just thought that I couldn't give her what she wanted."

But leaving was never an option for Leanne, who signed off work and temporarily relocated to the hospital for seven months, with her children coming to visit.

Leanne said: "All my friends said that they couldn't have done what I have done.

"Just because he had no legs makes no difference. I still want to be with him.

"He still makes me have butterflies in my stomach when he comes into the room."

After being discharged from hospital in December, Rick proposed at Christmas and the couple wed on Saturday at the Great Maines country hotel in Little Singleton, near Blackpool, with Leanne's son, Kyle, giving her away and her daughter, Erin, as one of her six bridesmaids.

The party dined on roast chicken and the couple had their first 'dance' to Nickelback's 'Far Away' before ending the night with a hog roast.

They are set to honeymoon in New York and the Caribbean.

Leanne, who is Rick's full-time carer, said: "Everything that we knew about each other has gone and it's like we've had to start out afresh.

"Sometimes I have a little cry to myself, but I pick myself back up because it won't change anything.

"But we now have a new relationship and I like him just the way he is.

"It was very difficult to take in at first that I couldn't have any kids with him, that we couldn't ever have that experience with each other, but we have plenty of time to talk about whether to adopt."

The couple have launched a campaign urging the government to protect parenthood dreams of soldiers by issuing them with £50 groin protectors and giving them the option to freeze sperm before going on tour.

Rick said: "The more public support we get the better. I'd love to get this stuff sorted by 2012 when a lot of my friends who were with me last time are going back to Afghanistan."

The couple admit that things can be difficult, but they try to stay positive and Rick is determined to walk on prosthetic limbs with the help of his rehab team at Headley Court Military Hospital.

He said: "It's going to be a long process but I'm determined to do it."

Despite being awarded almost £60,000 less compensation due to military injury payment caps, the couple are optimistic about their future, knowing they can face anything as long as it's together.

To support Rick's campaign visit the website below.