A BBC journalist injured when his cameraman was killed by a landmine in northern Iraq is recovering in hospital after having his lower leg amputated.
Producer Mr Stuart Hughes (31) was flown back to Britain after the incident at Kifri last Wednesday and had the operation in Cardiff.
His colleague Mr Kaveh Golestan (52) an Iranian freelance cameraman, was killed when he stood on a landmine as he got out of the car they were travelling in to carry out some filming.
Mr Hughes was hurt by a second landmine as he tried to take cover after the blast. His companion in the car the BBC correspondent Jim Muir and their local translator were slightly hurt.
Mr Hughes spoke of the moment he was injured, telling BBC Wales Today: "I was convinced I was going to die".
He said it took a few seconds for the realisation that he was still alive to sink in, before his attention turned to what he should do next.
"I feel a real strength in the fact that I am still here," he said.
Writing on his weblog set up to give a personal perspective on the Iraq conflict, Mr Hughes described his fear and relief after the operation, in which his right leg was amputated below the knee.
"Yesterday felt like waiting for an exam; that sick foreboding feeling in the pit of the stomach," he wrote.
"But that's what's happened to me and now it's over it doesn't seem so bad. Rather than months of hobbling around on crutches and scores of slow and painful operations, hopefully it means a swift return to normality."
PA