Harry hails Britain's 'Superman': Hero Marine who lost three limbs after kneeling on a bomb in Afghanistan - Continentalinquirer

News, Updates, Human Angle Stories, Investigations & Research from the kaleidoscope of thorough bred journalists...

Breaking

Wednesday 27 September 2017

Harry hails Britain's 'Superman': Hero Marine who lost three limbs after kneeling on a bomb in Afghanistan


A hero Royal Marine who lost three limbs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan was praised by Prince Harry last night after winning a silver medal at the Invictus Games.
Mark Ormrod claimed second place for Team UK in the indoor rowing event in Toronto and received a warm handshake from Prince Harry as the royal presented him with his medal.
The Prince has been following determined Mr Ormrod's path to glory having first met him at Headley Court, the armed forces' rehabilitation centre in Surrey, in 2008.
Mr Ormrod, a father-of-three, said he was 'incredibly proud' of his performance and his silver medal and added that the competition was 'truly phenomenal'. 
Kensington Palace, the Prince's official Twitter feed, later posted messages saying it was Harry's 'honour' to award 'the incredible' Mr Ormrod with his medal. 
The former 40-commando, who also received a hug from his children, Evie and Mason, took the praise in his stride, joking only that he 'looked drunk' in his victory photos because he was so exhausted.

Mark Ormrod claimed second place for Team UK in the indoor rowing event at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto
Mark Ormrod with Prince Harry
Mark Ormrod with his children Evie and Mason after winning his silver medal
Mark Ormrod with Prince Harry (left) and his children Evie and Mason (right) after winning his silver medal
Mark Ormrod claimed second place for Team UK in the indoor rowing event at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto
Mark Ormrod claimed second place for Team UK in the indoor rowing event at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto
Mark was serving in Helmand Province in December 2007 when his life changed forever in a IED blast during a patrol
Mark was serving in Helmand Province in December 2007 when his life changed forever in a IED blast during a patrol
Prince Harry first met Mr Ormrod in 2008 in Headley Court and last night awarded him a silver Invictus Games medal
Prince Harry first met Mr Ormrod in 2008 in Headley Court and last night awarded him a silver Invictus Games medal

Speaking after receiving his medal, Mr Ormrod said: 'When I signed up I didn't realise the competition would be so intense but it is truly phenomenal. 
'The support and atmosphere is incredible and I am so thankful to Help for Heroes for making this possible for myself and the 89 other UK Team competitors. 
'To have two silver is brilliant and seeing the other competitors is humbling. I am incredibly proud of my performance and medal achievement but for many of the athletes it is about personal bests, getting on that start line and being part of a team. 
'No matter your goal, everything about the Invictus Games is extraordinary.' 
He added the prince had marvelled how he had managed to walk up to get his medal on only his stumps only moments after competing his race.
He said: 'It was too much faffing about to put on my prosthetics, so I thought I would just bum shuffle it out.
'I stump-walked up the ramp and Harry said 'Jesus, I can't believe you have done all that rowing and now you are just yomping up that ramp. It tales a bit of energy but it's no biggie.'
He said: 'They've been shouting at me saying you need to go faster! They're brilliant. This has been a brilliant experience for them, they have been walking around with their yes wide open.
'I don't even really think my daughter knows what the word proud means. But she came running over and said daddy I'm really proud.'
Mr Ormrod refuses to use a wheelchair, saying it was his first recovery target to to be able to learn to use prosthetic legs.
He explained: 'In January, I usually sit down and set my goals for the following year. This Christmas Eve is my ten year anniversary of getting injured.
'I had this mental image of a jigsaw puzzle with family, career, self-development, fun, and all that kind of stuff. The centrepiece that was missing to me was sport.

'Getting rid of the wheelchair was a priority, getting a job a priority, then children came along so sport was never on my radar.
'I thought it would be a nice way to cap the decade off to get into this sport, throw myself into the deep end with Invictus, see how I do and then for me on this is over that's going to make me feel like I have completely dominated my injuries.
'That's the last piece of the puzzle for me and it's a nice way to round off the ten years.'
It is the first time he has competed in the Invictus Games and says it is a decision he will never regret.
He added: 'I will hold my hand up and say one of the reasons I stayed away from disabled sport for so long was that it felt patronising.
'I'm just going to turn up, people will say yeah and I'll get a gold medal.
'Then I started training and I was like shit, these guys are like ninjas.
'Literally the first training I was like wow, I need to screw the nut here and start training because you've seen when these guys can do, they're phenomenal.' 
As fans took to Instagram to congratulate him, Mr Ormrod insisted he is now concentrating on the other events he is competing in: cycling and swimming.
He wrote: 'Thanks everyone, no time to chill though, still got business to attend to.'
Mr Ormrod's incredible journey from near-death on the battlefield to sporting success is being made into a documentary which he hopes will inspire others not to give up.
He was carrying out a routine patrol on Christmas Eve in 2007 while serving in Helmand Province when he triggered an IED. The resulting explosion ripped off both his legs and his right arm.


Dailymail Uk 

No comments:

Post a Comment

Pages