While out on patrol in Bosnia, Wayne Ingram spotted four-year-old Stefan Savic, who was living with a rare facial deformity and promised to help him.
Now, 13 years and £140,000 later, Stefan has completed his remarkable recovery.
Stefan was born with a block of bone in the centre of his face, known as a facial cleft, which was forcing his eyes apart so much that he could barely see what was in front of him.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Wayne said: "Aside from the facial deformities he was just a normal, playful little boy. I had two young sons myself at the time and there was no way I could stand back and do nothing. I knew in an instant I had to do everything I could to help."
Wayne was so upset by what he saw he promised that he would see that Stefan was given state-of-the-art treatment in the UK and set about raising funds.
David Dunaway, a top surgeon, offered his services for free, so the money raised went towards flights and accommodation for Stefan and his family.
Through an amazing effort, he managed to raise £140,000 in total. Stefan underwent the first of his five operations at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital in 2003.
Credit: Wayne Ingram/www.wayneingram.com
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Since then he's had a 12-hour operation to deconstruct and reconstruct his skull, including removing the block of bone from the middle of his face, surgery to help with his breathing, and cartilage removed from his ear and moved to his nose.
Stefan, who is now 16, said: "All I can say is thank you. Over and over again, to everyone." Since undergoing his operations, his confidence has grown and he now has a girlfriend in Bosnia and is set to graduate from school this month.
Wayne, who now works as a paramedic, said he will continue to fundraise for Great Ormond Street. He most recently raised £12,000 for the hospital by spending a week on a life raft, with only one day's worth of food and water.
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What an absolute legend.
Featured image credit: Wayne Ingram/www.wayneingram.com