A hero Royal Marine, who lost three limbs after kneeling on a bomb in Afghanistan, has won silver at the Invictus Games.
Mark Ormrod claimed second place for Team UK in the indoor rowing event at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto.
After claiming the final, he received a warm handshake from Prince Harry and a hug from his children, Evie and Mason.
Prince Harry first met Mr Ormrod in 2008 in Headley Court and last night awarded him a silver Invictus Games medal.
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 (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
Mr Ormrod was serving in Helmand Province on Christmas Eve in 2007 when the explosion ripped off both his legs and his right arm.
He was fitted with artificial limbs on his return to Britain. He is the UK’s first triple amputee to survive the Afghanistan conflict.
During his recovery the doctors told him that he’d never walk again and that he should prepare himself for the rest of his life in a wheelchair.
Over the past couple of years he has been training to compete in the games in Canada and was selected from more than 300 as one of 90 to take part.
Previously describing the horrifying incident, he revealed he begged for death.
Mr Ormrod said: ‘I was lying naked and dying in the desert. I just thought I can’t live like this. I turned to the corporal and shouted: “Stick a bullet through my head”.
‘I was serious. I remember lying there thinking that I would feel like someone had punched me in the back of the head and then it would go black and it would be okay.’
Prince Harry first met Mr Ormrod in 2008 in Headley Court and last night awarded him a silver Invictus Games medal
Prince Harry pats Mr Ormrod on the head (left) while his children Evie and Mason admire his silver medal (right)
Over the past couple of years he has been training to compete in the games in Canada this year
Pre-accident: Mark was serving in Helmand Province in December 2007 when his life changed forever
Mr Ormrod was second-in-command of a patrol circling their remote Forward Operating Base in Helmand province.
After nearly three hours, they had regrouped a couple of hundred feet from the main gate and were surveying the path ahead.
Mr Ormrod said: ‘I was in a bit of a hollow and I had my three guys looking out where I needed them.
‘Then I knelt on this thing and it went off. When I detonated the IED all the sand and shingle was blown up and created a sandstorm.’
Purpose to life: Mark Ormrod pictured at home in Devon in 2012 with wife Becky, then 25, and then-15 week-old baby boy Mason
Road to recovery: Hero Royal Marine Mark Ormrod pictured during rehabilitation in 2012 after he lost both legs and one arm while serving in Afghanistan
Today, Mr Ormrod is an internationally acclaimed motivational speaker, a peak performance coach, and the author of the award winning auto-biography Man Down.
Speaking before the tournament he said: ‘By jumping into it and learning it it’s really helped me grow as a person.
‘I think by representing the country at the Invictus Games it’s going to feel like I’ve completely dominated my injuries and it’s going to be a really nice way to round off 10 years.
‘I’m just living my life. If that can motivate and inspire people then I think I’m onto a winner because I’m just going out and having a good time, enjoying myself and experiencing life while I’m here and if that helps other people get on with theirs then what more can you ask for?’