A FUND to help an ailing SAS hero pay his care home fees has shot past £55,000 — thanks to Sun readers.
Pals of Sekonaia “Tak” Takavesi, 81, launched the appeal as his military pension and contributions from family and local authority do not cover the cost.
A fund to help ailing SAS hero Sekonaia “Tak” Takavesi pay his care home fees has shot past £55,000Supplied
Tak was one of 20 troopers who stormed the Iranian embassy in London in 1980
We urged readers to donate via independent charity Pilgrim Bandits — and after a fast start, the pot has surged by another £35,000 in a week.
Tak was one of 20 troopers who stormed the Iranian embassy in London in 1980 to end a six-day siege — rescuing all but one of 19 hostages.
He won a bravery medal in Oman in 1972, served in the Falklands and, aged 58, killed an insurgent in hand-to-hand combat in 2003’s Iraq War despite having been shot in the head.
Fiji-born Tak has dementia and was moved into a specialist home in Hereford in April.
He said: “I am so grateful to Sun readers for digging deep and helping me.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Ex-comrade Major Matt Hellyer, who started the fundraiser, said: “It’s clear people want heroes like Tak to be looked after properly.”
Tak’s wife Mandy said the cash will help cover several years of fees.
She aims to meet minister Alistair Carns to discuss long-term care provisions for veterans.
The MoD said its Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and War Pension Scheme provide financial aid to serving personnel and veterans who have injuries or illnesses caused by service.
How to donate
To donate to Tak’s Just Giving page scan the QR code.
WHEN WAS THE IRANIAN EMBASSY SIEGE & WHAT HAPPENED?
The Iranian embassy siege took place from April to May of 1980.
Panic was sparked when, on April 30, six gunmen took 26 people, including staff, a police officer and members of the public, hostage inside the embassy building.
The group demanded release of prisoners in the Iranian province of Khuzestan as part of a campaign for regional independence, as well as transport out of the UK.
Five hostages were released over the next few days after negotiations with police.
But it was decided by ministers that the gunmen’s full list of demands could not be met.
Instead, the SAS would conduct a raid on the building to rescue the remaining hostages under the name Operation Nimrod.
Two teams of commandos stormed the building on the evening of May 5, abseiling from the roof and using gas grenades to clear the building.
Five of the six gunmen were killed and all except one of the remaining 21 hostages were rescued.
The final gunman, Fowzi Bedavi Nejad, spent 27 years in prison before being granted parole in 2008.
A number of the hostages signed a petition asking for his release, saying he “has been punished” and could not return to Iran as he would be shot “as soon as he got off the plane”.
It is believed he now lives somewhere in South London under a new name.
The siege was the first time the SAS had been brought to public attention, with the service reporting a surge in applications in its wake.
It also inspired films including 1982’s Who Dares Wins and even a Tom Clancy video game.
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