Army veteran thanks community for support after boat blaze leaves him homeless

The public has rallied to support a British Army veteran who was left homeless by a fire on his canal boat, resulting in him spending Christmas in hospital.

Bradford-born Kris Hardy, a nine-year Army Air Corps veteran who completed two operational tours in Afghanistan, lost his home when his boat caught fire on the Bridgewater Canal in Warrington.

Once he was discharged from hospital, Mr Hardy immediately set about rebuilding his life with the support of his family and friends who launched a fundraiser.

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Mr Hardy said: "On the night of 19 December, I was on my boat and in my bedroom with the log stove on. It was getting really hot, and I was going for some water.

"I nipped out to the shops to get more water, literally five minutes. As I walked back up to my boat, I didn't see the fire, but I saw smoke coming from inside.

"I opened the door, the oxygen hit the heat and then there was a big flash. It blew up in my face and nearly knocked me into the canal.

"I tried to fight it myself but it was just too much so I rang the emergency services. It took them two hours to put it out.

"I thought I was ok, but they called me an ambulance and I was in hospital for eight days over Christmas, six days on oxygen. I came off it on Christmas Day.

"I basically lost everything. The only thing I had left was the bottle of water I went to the shops for."

Despite the loss, Mr Hardy maintains a strong positive outlook and vows to rebuild his home and life.

He credited his time in the military as helping shape his outlook on life.

The fundraiser, which has raised more than £4,000, has received widespread attention and will help cover the costs to rebuild his home.  

He was also contacted by the Army Air Corps which donated to his cause.

"My friend Craig Walker, who I knew from the military, set up the fundraiser for me. My friend Scott Morley, who I joined the Army with, has helped me a lot. The whole thing took off from there," he explained.

Mr Hardy is now working to rebuild his canal boat home and repair the damage caused by the fire.  

He has been an active charity supporter in his community, and previously trained as a barber, saying: "I cut hair for the homeless on the 18th and I ended up homeless myself on the 19th."

In response to the support he has received, he said: "I'm so grateful.

"Grateful to be alive and for the support I've had, and any other support if anyone wants to come down and give me a few extra hands that would be amazing. Either way, I'll crack on.

"Life is precious, it could have been a totally different situation if I hadn't gone to the shops. I could have been asleep; it made me realise how precious life is.

"If there are any veterans local to me who have a trade and are willing to help me out that would be much appreciated, or just any help would mean so much at this time."

Kris Hardy's fundraiser can be supported here.