Chris Gordon, a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook pilot from Manchester who now lives in Los Angeles, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by Queen Elizabeth II for rescuing 31 British and Afghan troops during an intense firefight in Afghanistan in 2013. However, he is currently battling severe aplastic anaemia and urgently needs a stem cell transplant to survive. Gordon is working with the blood cancer charity DKMS to find a matching donor, emphasizing the importance of ethnic diversity on stem cell registers for individuals like himself who have mixed heritage.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-24,
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Story summary
Chris Gordon, a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook helicopter pilot who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross by the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for his bravery during the Afghanistan conflict, is now facing life-threatening health issues. In 2010, while serving in Afghanistan, Gordon saved 31 lives when he used his helicopter to shield British and Afghan troops from enemy fire before successfully airlifting them to safety despite losing an engine during the attack.
Recently diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia, a rare blood disorder that prevents bone marrow from producing new blood cells, Gordon now urgently requires a stem cell transplant. Without this treatment, doctors have warned he could die. To increase his chances of finding a matching donor, Gordon has launched a public appeal for stem cell donors through organizations such as DKMS.
Written for “Afghanistan Hero Pilot Needs Transplant” on 2026-10-05,
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A hero helicopter pilot who saved 31 lives in Afghanistan could die unless he receives a stem cell transplant.
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Chris Gordon, a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook pilot, received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013 for his life-saving work during the war in Afghanistan.
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Gordon → receive → Afghanistan
The medal for gallantry was handed to Mr Gordon after he used his helicopter to shield British and Afghan troops from enemy fire before airlifting them to safety.
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he → hand → safety
Mr Gordon carried out his brave rescue mission despite losing an engine during the attack.
But now, the veteran has launched an appeal for a stem cell donor after he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia.
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he → carry → anaemia
In a plea to donors, Mr Gordon said: 'In Afghanistan I saw courage and leadership at their best, people stepping forward when others needed help.
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others → say → help
Now I find myself needing help from other people.'
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myself → find → people
Aplastic anaemia is an extremely rare, life-threatening blood disorder which means Mr Gordon's bone marrow cannot produce new blood cells.
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marrow → threaten → cells
Chris Gordon (pictured), a 43-year-old former RAF Chinook pilot, received the Distinguished Flying Cross from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2013
Mr Gordon has launched an appeal for a stem cell donor after he was diagnosed with severe aplastic anaemia
Doctors have told him that he needs a transplant for a second chance at life.
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he → picture → life
The former pilot is now working with the blood cancer charity DKMS to get more people to register as potential stem cell donors.
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people → work → donors
Mr Gordon, who is from Manchester but now lives in Los Angeles, is now working as a director at a helicopter company,
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has been told that he needs a transplant in the next few months.
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His brother Jonathan was found to be only a half match so medics are scouring global stem cell registers in the hope that someone will be a full match for Mr Gordon.
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someone → find → Gordon
While he waits for a match he is having blood transfusions twice a week.
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DKMS said that finding a matching donor is also linked to ethnic heritage, and only a small proportion of the stem cell register is from an ethnic minority background.
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This means that people such as Mr Gordon, who is half Jamaican, have less chance of finding their lifesaving match, the charity said.
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charity → mean → match
But I need them to join the donor register so they can be identified as a match,' the veteran said.
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veteran → need → match
He continued: 'I really think that if you're OK giving blood, you can donate your stem cells.
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you → continue → cells
In a plea to donors, Mr Gordon said: 'In Afghanistan I saw courage and leadership at their best, people stepping forward when others needed help.
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others → say → help
Now I find myself needing help from other people.
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myself → find → people
The couple are expecting a baby boy within weeks
'
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People don't know that they can do this, and they don't know the impact that it could have.
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The actual sign-up process is so easy, and most people will never even be called up.
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But if you are a match, you could save the life of someone like me, and it is probably much easier than you think.'
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Mr Gordon, who spent 14 years with the RAF, lives with his wife and two-year-old daughter.
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The couple are expecting a baby boy within weeks.
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DKMS said that signing up to its register is a 'simple process', involving just a few health questions and some cheek swabs, which can be ordered for free from the charity's website.
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DKMS spokesperson Bronagh Hughes said: 'For Chris, and patients like him around the world, the right person joining the stem cell donor register could give them their lives back.
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'We are so grateful that he has chosen to share his story to encourage more people to sign up as potential donors.
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'Signing up only takes a few minutes, but one day you could be called to give someone a second chance.
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Take a look at the DKMS website to find out more and order your free kit today; you could save a life.'
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