Ex-Coldstream Guard, Mark Evans tells, for the first time, the incredible story of the Battle of Nad Ali in the Afghanistan conflict.

On a patrol, Mark and his men are pinned down in a fire fight. Mark calls in air support but the Apache pilot makes a fatal error and opens fire on the British and ANA forces. Mark is one of the few to escape unscathed.

Nad Ali is declared a 'black' zone with the RAF refusing to fly in and leaving Mark and his men without critical resources.

Drawing on parallels with the famous battle of Rorke's Drift, that inspired the film Zulu, Code Black is a forthright account of modern warfare and the damaging effects of PTSD.

Code Black reveals what it is like to fight on the front line and the challenges it presents to those it affects, not just as as soldiers, but as people.

Mark Evans (Author)
Like many boys who don't want to be train drivers or astronauts, Mark grew up wanting to be a soldier. After a standard schooling involving rugby, football, girls and all manner of detentions he left Oxfordshire for University College London to study archaeology. Discovering a lack of real-life Indiana Jones moments, Mark eventually fulfilled his boyhood ambition and was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 2004.

From Nigeria to Canada, Belize to Buckingham Palace, Mark had a diverse and fulfilling career, seeing active service in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

On his return from Afghanistan Mark was diagnosed with PTSD and subsequently left the army in 2010 after reaching the rank of Captain. His experiences have led him to work with Help for Heroes and Combat Stress to raise awareness for those affected by recent conflicts.

After a turbulent couple of years dealing with the aftermath of war Mark is now happily settled in South West London with his girlfriend.