--- title: "This Royal Marine threw himself on a grenade – and walked away with a nosebleed" description: "Royal Marine Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher's dad says his boy is a \"lucky man.\"" date: "2022-09-24" modified: "2022-09-24" authors: - name: "Blake Stilwell" job_title: "Editor-In-Chief, Air Force Veteran" link: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/authors/blake/" url: "https://www.wearethemighty.com/mighty-moments/this-royal-marine-threw-himself-on-a-grenade-and-walked-away-with-a-nosebleed/" categories: - "Afghanistan War" - "Heroes" - "History" - "War History" --- # This Royal Marine threw himself on a grenade – and walked away with a nosebleed ![]() Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher's dad says his boy is a "lucky man." The [Royal Marine]() was attached to 40 Commando Group in Afghanistan in 2008. On a night raid on a bomb maker's compound in Sangin, he brushed a tripwire. The grenade sprung, then hit the ground. He shouted "grenade" and "tripwire" to warn the others – then he threw himself on top of it. ![]() *Croucher in Afghanistan* "The wire was tight against my leg, just under my knee" [he told the Independent](). "You know instinctively what it is, what it means. Then I heard the grenade drop, right next to me." He first dived on it face down, but realizing that wasn't going to shield much of the blast, he quickly flipped over onto his back, covering the explosive with his full rucksack. He even had time to think of what was about to happen to him. Then it exploded. Croucher rucksack was ripped apart, his armor and helmet riddled with shrapnel and fragmentation, and his equipment began to burn "like a flare." But that equipment is what saved his life. Doctors say he was extremely lucky to walk away with only a headache and nosebleed. The [equipment cushioned him from the explosion](). It took him a good 30 seconds [to realize he wasn't dead](). ![]() *Croucher's pack was torn to shreds.* The Royal Marine was awarded the George Cross for gallantry, an award on par with Britain's Victoria Cross, except the George Cross is awarded when the enemy is not present during the act of valor. Queen Elizabeth II presented Lance Cpl. Croucher with the medal. ![]() *Her Majesty The Queen presents Matthew Croucher with his George Cross.* He later penned a memoir about his time in Sangin, called "Bulletproof." In 2010, Britain's Ministry of Defence threatened to seize all of Croucher's earnings from the book, due to a law that prevents serving UK troops from writing books on their experiences – except Croucher is a reservist. The Defence Ministry put Croucher under investigation, despite the Marine having received permission from his commanding officer. The MoD did an about face on the investigation [within hours of journalists from the Daily Mail asking questions]() about it. Follow Matthew Croucher, GC on [Twitter](). ## Author Blake Stilwell is We Are The Mighty's Editor-in-Chief, covering military news, entertainment, and history, along with veteran education, employment and entrepreneurship. He is a former U.S. Air Force combat cameraman with degrees in Graphic Design, Television and Film, International Relations, Public Relations, Business Management and Middle Eastern Affairs. After leaving the military, he began working in film and television production in New York and Los Angeles, work that included ABC News, NBC Olympics, and HBO Sports. He then spent two years in Washington with White House Communications, before joining the Near East Foundation. At NEF he served as an International Development Fellow, then Communications Officer, and finally, Media Officer for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the Palestinian Territory, he coordinated strategic communications between eight country offices, international media, and government and NGO partners. He began a career focused on writing and editing in 2015 with We Are The Mighty. He left in 2019 for Military.com, but returned as Editor-in-Chief in 2025. Blake’s work has been seen on CBS News, Fox News, CBC, The Chicago Tribune, Task & Purpose, Military Times, Recoil, Skillset, American History, and was shockingly even used in a Supreme Court argument. He is an avid traveler and small business owner in Ohio, where he spends most of his energy fixing up a very old house. ### Author social links [Facebook]() [Twitter]() [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()