Dave Henson Bronze

Dave Henson wins a Paralympic bronze medal.

19:23 13 September 2016

Dave Henson came in third place in the 200m in Rio on Sunday night. The key to his success was his training for the inaugural Invictus Games held in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2014.

 

The former army captain had lost both his legs while on patrol for the Royal Engineers in Afghanistan five years ago. However, he has never sought pity for his injuries and instead says he believe it has allowed him to see the world with “fresh eyes.”

 

Talking about the incident that took place five years ago, he said: "I looked down and saw my legs were in pieces - skin and muscle hanging off and bones poking out. I started screaming, I don't think it was pain at that point, the adrenaline kept the pain off for a few minutes."

 

"I am so lucky to be alive, so to look at me with pity or sorrow for these injuries when the alternative is not to be here at all is ridiculous," he said.

 

"I think we're blessed as a group of guys that had pretty much stared death in the face and come back from it.

 

"We can look around and see the world with these fresh eyes and realise just how beautiful it is."