Military veterans ready for Invictus Games challenge

Heroes from across South Wales have travelled to Sydney to compete at the Invictus Games. These are some of their stories, as Abbie Wightwick reports

A 72-STRONG team of wounded, injured and sick current and former military personnel is in Sydney, Australia, to represent the UK at the fourth Invictus Games.

Competitors from 18 nations will compete in 11 sports. The event will begin with an opening ceremony tomorrow at the Sydney Opera House.

Team GB captain, former Royal Signals corporal Mark “Dot” Perkins, suffered severe hip and leg injuries when the army vehicle he was travelling across Kenya in skidded on an oil spill and overturned 18 years ago.

Mark, then aged 25, suffered left hip and leg injuries as he was flung under the vehicle with two others, both of whom were killed.

His hip dislocated through his pelvis and he suffered nerve damage. The injuries left him needing multiple operations including two hip replacements in three years after the first became infected. Mark, who had to use a wheelchair for months after the accident, still has no feeling in his left leg and was also treated for survivor guilt and adjustment disorder.

Now married with a daughter, Mark works as a civilian at RAF St Athan.

Fellow competitor and Army veteran Michael Matthews, 31, was medically discharged in May 2015.

The former lance corporal from Cardiff says he is using the Games to help him regain his purpose and sense of camaraderie.

“Competing will re-establish a sense of belonging to a brotherhood and evoke the feeling of team spirit in which I had in the Army prior to my injuries.”

Since starting training for games, Michael says he has fully committed himself to recovery, and has started a wheelchair rugby club that he trains with on a weekly basis.

“I want the feeling that I am serving for my country once more, but in a sport that has helped my recovery.

“It will give me a great sense of pride to once again put on a uniform with a union jack and represent my country – and to inspire a generation to show what they think is impossible is actually possible.”

Former flight sergeant Jeff Robinson, 49, lives in Llantwit Major. He was discharged from the RAF in 2010.

“During my time serving I sustained a number of serious injuries. Each time, it took longer and more support to recover.

“Invictus Games 2018 gives me that continued support at every training session and match played with the opportunity to not only help me in my recovery, but now to also be able to assist and mentor others who are just