A SOLDIER who lost his legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan has been rushed to hospital with suspected meningitis.

Sapper Ashley Hall was complaining of headaches, light hurting his eyes and other symptoms common for those with the illness.

He was taken by ambulance to Colchester General Hospital late on Monday.

His father Stephen said: “He is on a drip and being treated for suspected meningitis, and will be staying in hospital.

“I hope it is not life-threatening, but people do die from it so it is a worry. At least he is in the right place.”

Ashley, 20, a former St Benedict’s College student in Colchester who lives in Stratford St Mary, lost his legs in July, and has had almost 20 operations since.

He had been working towards getting prosthetic legs to allow him to walk again, and was having saline solution injections as part of the process.

Mr Hall said: “Things had been going fine, then he gotthis. He has been through so much, and does not deserve it.”

Since Ashley was rushed to hospital, the family have been at his side waiting for blood test results.

But his father took a minute to thank people for showing their concern.

He said: “I have had so many text messages and phone calls all showing support, and it is great the amount we get. Thank you all.”

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes which surround the brain and spinal cord.

Bacterial meningitis can cause severe brain damage and septicaemia, but viral meningitis is far more common and less serious.

Ashley Hall lost his legs and the tips of three fingers in a blast, as well as suffering damage to his retina and a shattered pelvis, after being caught in an explosion from an improvised explosive device in Helmand province.

His family have set up The Invicta Foundation for wounded troops to try to build housing for recovering troops once they are discharged from hospital.