A BASINGSTOKE woman will publish a book next week reflecting on her career as a chinook crew 'chick' in the RAF - the highs, the lows and the PTSD. 

During Liz McConaghy's career in RAF, which started in 2001, she has done various deployments to both Iraq and Afghinstan where she was part of the emergency response team. 

Ever since being posted at Odiham in 2003, Liz has lived in Basingstoke, but it wasn't until 2019 after developing a neck injury that she had no choice but to sadly leave the RAF right before the UK went into a lockdown at the start of the following year. 

Throughout Liz's career she said that she has seen quite a lot of trauma, that she thought she had dealth with well. It wasn't until lockdown, where she lived alone, that her behaviour started to change and she reflected upon some of the injured soldiers she had helped collect on the battle field. 

Sadly in August 2020, Liz tried to commit suicide due to the overwhelming emotions she was feeling. 

However, two years of PTSD councilling later and writing all her thoughts and feelings down onto paper, Liz's book is being published by Pen and Sword publishers on Friday September 30.

Liz said: "I never started writing this book with the intention of it being published so it just felt amazing that somebody wanted to publish it and that people may actually want to read it. 

"I hope it inspires a lot of young children to follow thier dreams, originally from Northern Ireland I have no experience in the forces and none of my family were."

Liz now works for a drone company doing project management as apart of an avaition project.

She said she joined the RAF after going with her brother to sit his exams to join the the army.

She waited for him in the careers office and saw a leaflet in the careers office advertising the role of a helicopter crewman. She asked questions about the role and then a year later found herself in the RAF.

She added: "I ended up having the most amazing career, so I hope that inspires some people. I was also the only female doing my job for four years, so also hopes it inspires some young females to follow their career path. 

"I also hope this book is relateable for people who have been impacted by suicide in some way. "

The book is currently available for pre-order from Amazon, WH Smith, Waterstones and Pen and Sword Publishers. 

There is also a book signing at Waterstones in Festival Place on October 22 at 2pm.