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The artist who designed the poppies currently surrounding the Tower of London has revealed he lost a finger while working on the commemorative installation.
Paul Cummins’ right hand was crushed in an industrial roller used to create the 888,246 ceramic flowers, which represent every British fatality between 1914 and 1918.
The ceramic artist, 37, told the Mirror
"Morphine helped."
He lost his middle finger and the use of his index finger in the accident in May, which prevented him from finishing off the poppies. However, he hopes to return to work in six months.
Show all 19 1 /19In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London A photograph of Cpl Thomas William Belton of the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry at the gates of the Tower of London poppy installation
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In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Visitors view the "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" in the moat area of the Tower of London in central London
FP PHOTO / LEON NEAL
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha each lay a poppy at an art installation, at the Tower of London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Tube closures and warnings of a crush of visitors couldn’t keep half-term crowds from Paul Cummins’ ceramic poppies
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' by artist Paul Cummins, made up of 888,246 ceramic poppies fills the moat of the Tower of London, to commemorate the First World War in London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Volunteers continue to assemble an installation entitled 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' by artist Paul Cummins
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' by artist Paul Cummins, made up of 888,246 ceramic poppies fills the moat of the Tower of London, to commemorate the First World War
Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Red ceramic poppies that form part of the art installation "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" are seen at the Tower of London in London. The evolving art installation, which will be completed on 11 November, will create a commemoration for the centenary of World War One
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Crowds gather to see the red ceramic poppies that form part of the art installation "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" at the Tower of London in London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London An aerial view of the Tower of London, surrounded by ceramic poppies in a field of rememberance which started in July 2014 and will end with the last poppy being plave on Armistice day 11 November 2014
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London War Horse's Joey and Michael Morpurgo visit the Tower of London poppies
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red evolving art installation at the Tower of London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh visit the installation
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In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Three generations on the military, Chelsea Pensioner Albert Willis, Yeoman Warder Paul Cunilffe and Captain of the Grenadier Guard Joe Robinson plant poppies at the 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' evolving art installation at the Tower of London. 888,246 poppies will be planted in the moat by volunteers with the last poppy being planted on the 11 November 2014. Each poppy represents a British or Colonial fatality in the First World War
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London A general view at the 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' evolving art installation at the Tower of London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Chelsea Pensioner Albert Willis plants a poppy at the Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red evolving art installation at the Tower of London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry visit The Tower of London's 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' ceramic poppy installation by artist Paul Cummins, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of First World War in London
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Catherine, The Duchess of Cambridge adds a ceramic poppy watched by Prince William, Duke of Cambridge as she visits The Tower of London's 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' ceramic poppy installation
In pictures: 'Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' poppy installation in London London Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry join dignitaries as they visit the Tower of London's ceramic poppy field
Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War.
It will be on display at the Tower of London until Remembrance Day on 11 November, when the last poppy will be placed in the moat.
Four million people are expected to have visited by tribute by Armistice Day.
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