Garth Long's eyes were blown out when a rocket blasted into his vehicle more than 30 years ago during the civil war in what is today Zimbabwe.
Now completely blind, the 55-year-old former South African policeman is determined to defy his disability and swim across the English Channel to raise €400,000 for guide dogs.
Aided by just two kayaks on either side for directions, he will cross what is known as "the Mount Everest of swims" - a feat only 1,050 people have successfully attempted since 1875.
"When I lost my job because of the recession in the UK, I decided it was time to go MAD - make a difference", he says, beaming with energy during one of his training sessions at the National Pool in Tal-Qroqq.
Despite having lost his sight, Mr Long has kept his keen interest in sports and fitness, and has competed in several well-known road marathons.
Since he spent 22 years of his life able to see, he now has a very vivid visual recall. This means he is painfully aware of what he is missing out on too, but still able to mentally visualise everything, including colour and "the meaning of pretty", he says, turning to face his girlfriend Sandy.
"After the blast I woke up the next day in hospital with bandages over my eyes. I asked when they would be removed but the doctor told me I was totally blind and I would never see again", he said, recalling the time he felt overcome by his disability.
The hardest part for him was when the nurse would come in his room, open the windows, and say "what a beautiful day it is".
"But the thing that gave me most strength was my Catholic faith, because I know that after this life I won't be blind anymore," he said.
He believes that to overcome adversity one must set goals, have dreams and create plans.
"Out of every problem there is always a seed of inspiration that emerges," he said.
He is training in Malta instead of Ireland (where he currently lives) because of the warmer climate and the fact that he would not have to travel long distances to get to a pool or the open sea.
His attempt will take place on July 17 next year, where he will swim more than 21 nautical miles and cross the world's biggest shipping lane.
"In the channel there are varying depths so there will be times when it will get very cold and I will have to beat hypothermia," he said.
The swim is expected to take between 15 and 18 hours, depending on the tides. As a blind swimmer he finds it especially difficult to swim in a straight line and this affects his speed. But what is important for him, even in this swim, is endurance and flexibility.
"As a blind person my life is totally regimented. I have to keep things in the same place and have a daily routine so that I don't get confused. But in the sea, everything depends on the unpredictable weather, so I have to be flexible," he said.
However, being able to break away from routine and feel somewhat independent is what excites him most. To swim as well as possible he must keep a strict rhythmic stroke so he can calculate how many times he needs to stroke to cover a certain length.
"This pool is 50 metres long so I know I have about 35 or 38 strokes till I reach the end. But as I get nearer I can feel the pressure of the water change and I can sense I'm close."
So what is his advice to people like him struggling with some form of disability or problem?
"I don't think you ever beat disability. You manage it. Don't just sit there and complain. Do something. Start reading and work on your personal development. Not everyone can be the president or the prime minister but everyone can be courageous and do something."