Prince Harry and Meghan Markle step out with ‘superman’ former Marine and Invictus Games silver medalist Mark Ormrod who lost three limbs in Afghanistan

• Prince Harry, 38, and Meghan Markle, 42, watched swimming with Mark Ormrod
• READ MORE: It’s the Meghan Show! Duchess of Sussex takes centre-stage at Prince Harry’s Invictus Games as she cuddles up to some furry friends, sings Sweet Caroline and shares a joke with her royal husband

Mark Ormrod, who has previously been described as ‘superman’, lost three limbs after kneeling on a bomb in Afghanistan.

The Marine was serving in Helmand Province on Christmas Eve in 2007 when he knelt on an a bomb and the explosion ripped off both legs and his right arm. 

Despite the severity of his injuries, he took part in the Invictus Games in 2017, claiming second place for Team UK in the indoor rowing event. 

Earlier this week, he was snapped sitting next to Prince Harry, 38, as the pair watched Wheelchair Rugby.

Prince Harry and triple amputee Mark Ormrod watch the Wheelchair Rugby together earlier this week (pictured L-R: Prince Harry and Mark Ormrod)

Today, they were joined by Meghan Markle, 42, as the trio enjoyed the Swimming Finals – even singing Sweet Caroline together at one point.

The former Marine has known the royal for many years, after they first met in 2008, at Headley Court, the armed forces’ rehabilitation centre in Surrey following his accident.

He  was second-in-command of a patrol circling their remote Forward Operating Base in Helmand province when tragedy struck.

Previously describing the horrific explosion which led to his injuries, he told how he begged for death.

Mark 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.’   

After his accident, Mark became the UK’s first triple amputee to survive the Afghanistan conflict.

He  was told by doctors that he’d never walk again and that he should prepare himself for the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Today, Mark Ormrod (pictured, left) again joined Prince Harry (pictured, centre) to watch the swimming with Meghan Markle (pictured, right)

Former Marine and Invictus Games silver medalist Mark Ormrod was pictured shaking hands with Meghan Markle 

Mark Ormrod (pictured with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) has described the Invictus Games as extraordinary

But he said it was his first recovery target to be able to learn to use prosthetic legs. 

Speaking in 2017 after winning his Invictus Games medal, he said: ‘In January, I usually sit down and set my goals for the following year. This Christmas Eve is my 10 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.

The trio were seen joining in with the rest of the crowd and singing Sweet Caroline during the swimming finals 

‘That’s the last piece of the puzzle for me and it’s a nice way to round off the 10 years.’

Speaking about the Games, he 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.’

Source: Read Full Article