GRIPPING, MOVING AND INSPIRING: the remarkable life of a world-leading expert in chemical weapons defence.
"His work has saved lives and given hope." - Professor David Nott, bestselling author of War Doctor
For thirty years, Hamish has served and volunteered in conflict zones around the world. As the army's foremost chemical weapons expert, he built a unique first-hand understanding of how to prevent attacks and train doctors on the frontline - saving countless lives in the process.
After suffering near-death experiences time and again, Hamish discovered he had a ticking time bomb in his own chest: a heart condition called Sudden Death Syndrome that could kill him at any time. But with a new awareness for the fragility of life, he fought harder to make his count.
Despite facing extraordinary personal danger, Hamish has unearthed evidence of multiple chemical attacks in Syria and continues to advise the government at the highest level, including after the 2018 Novichok poisoning in Salisbury. Lifting the lid on Hamish's unique world of battlefield expertise and humanitarian work, Chemical Warrior is a thrilling story of bravery and compassion.
I can't breathe...
The scary thing about sarin is it's odourless and colourless. You're not even sure if it's there, but before you know it the gas seeps into your lungs, then your heart. I've put my gas mask on, twisted the valves, just like they trained us at Sandhurst, and still nothing. I desperately try to inhale again but no matter what I do, there's no air.
More rockets whizz past, lighting up the night sky, shaking the earth around me. Then the crackling sound of gunfire fills my ears. If I keep the mask on, I'm going to die. If I take it off, I'm going to die. And if I stand and run then I'm going to get shot in the crossfire.
I see one of our Land Rovers fifty yards away, and suddenly I know what I must do. With my lungs almost empty and my muscles burning, I run...
Chemical Warrior reads as a
fast-paced thriller, each derring-do tale worthy of a book in itself.
