All you need to know about renowned SAS soldier Chris Ryan

His real name is Colin Armstrong; “Chris Ryan” is the pseudonym he adopted after leaving the Regiment and becoming a bestselling author and TV presenter.

He is best known for his escape from Iraq during the 1991 Gulf War.

Here is all you need to know about one of the SAS' most renowned officers.

Early life and SAS career

Chris Ryan, born in 1961 near Newcastle, first attached himself informally to the Territorial SAS (23 SAS) as a teenager.

He passed selection for the regular 22 SAS in 1984.

He served in various roles, including mountain guide, paramedic, and sniper.

Bravo Two Zero and the Gulf War

During the 1991 Gulf War, Ryan was part of the ill-fated Bravo Two Zero patrol.

The mission went wrong, and Ryan was the only one to evade capture.

He walked roughly 188 miles across hostile desert terrain in sub-zero temperatures.

Decorations and recognition

Ryan was awarded the Military Medal for his actions in the Gulf.

He also received the Gulf Medal and operational medals for service in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

His escape is still described as the longest in SAS history.

Life after the SAS

Ryan left the SAS in 1994 and became a bestselling author and TV presenter.

His first book, The One That Got Away, became a bestseller.

He has also worked as a bodyguard, TV presenter, and military adviser.

Legacy in the SAS story

Ryan's name is synonymous with extreme endurance and the "get-home" mentality.

His escape is often cited as a benchmark for mental and physical toughness.

His Military Medal and the Bravo Two Zero story secure his place among the most important and well-known SAS soldiers of the modern era.