Meet Karl Hinett the marathon man

A former soldier from the Black Country who suffered severe burns in a petrol-bomb attack in Iraq has completed the first 26 miles of his challenge to run 52 marathons this year.

Karl Hinett from Tipton has just returned from Zurich after joining 600 other competitors. He completed the run in just over four-and-a-half hours and is now gearing up for his next challenge in Florida this weekend.

The 23-year-old of Hall Lane suffered 37 per cent burns to hands, legs, arms and face.

He had to learn to walk again and had multiple operations and skin grafts after the attack in September 2005.He plans to run 1,363 miles in 2011 in aid of the burns unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and will fund the challenge using his Army pension.

He has said the challenge is nothing compared to the life-saving treatment he received for his injuries.

Video journalist Cathy Spencer went along to meet Karl.