Veteran and Combat Stress Peer Support Coordinator selected for Invictus Games

“I just can’t wait and haven’t stopped smiling and I think it has already allowed me to become driven and focused and my family can already see the difference going on this Invictus journey has meant to me..”

Army veteran, Steve, who served for over 26 years, reaching the rank of Staff Sergeant, before joining Combat Stress to help other veterans on their recovery pathway, will be representing Team UK at this year’s Invictus Games in Dusseldorf, Germany.

From 9-16 September, Steve will be competing in wheelchair Basketball, sitting volleyball, Archery, Table Tennis and Wheelchair Rugby – a sport he already has a passion for playing with his home team Hull FC.

Having applied for the Invictus Games team previously, Steve is thrilled to have been selected this time around hopes it will aid his ongoing recovery and make his family proud. 

Back in 2012, Steve sustained life-changing injuries during a tour in Afghanistan.  His vehicle was hit by an IED, leaving his leg badly injured and he was shot in the helmet on the follow up attack which resulted in a traumatic brain injury. Steve would later have his leg amputated after numerous operations, infections and complications.

After a long and challenging journey of surgeries, infections, blood clots, damaged lungs-  which meant a long period of pulmonary rehabilitation- amputation and learning to adapt as an amputee, Steve is now able to walk again and the wheelchair is gathering dust in the garage. However, his mental health suffered as a result:

“Ten years on from sustaining my injuries in Afghanistan, I still have some struggles when it comes to my mental health, but I am hoping that  being part of a team and sharing in this journey with the Invictus family will have a profound positive effect.

I’m looking forward to using sport to help me to continue to regain my focus and drive and go beyond mere ‘recovery’ and inspire me to strive not just in competition, but also create awareness that some injuries run deeper than what people see.”

“I’m looking forward to being around fellow veterans and all working towards the same goals, competing on a global stage and I hope to make a difference and my family proud, sharing in the joys and excitement of being part of Team UK. I just can’t wait and haven’t stopped smiling and I think it has already allowed me to become more driven and focused and my family can already see the difference going on this Invictus journey has meant to me”. 

Crediting his role at Combat Stress with aiding his own recovery, Steve feels that helping other veterans has given him back a sense of purpose.  This led to him discovering his love of wheelchair rugby league in recent years and even lead an Army wheelchair rugby league team to overseas tournaments in Australia and re-ignite his passion for sport.