Invictus athlete returns to army family

A Canterbury man is thrilled to be back with the Defence Force nearly 30 years after a freak accident robbed him of his planned career – and the use of his limbs.

Oxford’s Grant Philip is part of the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) team competing in the Invictus Games in Sydney this month.

The games are the only international adaptive sporting event for wounded, injured and ill active duty and former service members.

This year’s event, which runs from today until October 27, involves 500 competitors from 18 allied nations in 11 adaptive sports.

Philip was just 18 and in the New Zealand Army’s Territorial Force when he fell awkwardly from a diving pontoon at a beach on a summer evening.

He had planned to join the regular force, but the accident left him with tetraplegia, which affects all four limbs, and he has needed to use a wheelchair ever since.

The accident has not stopped him giving everything a go though – he has represented New Zealand in para-shooting and has taken part in snow skiing, rafting, kayaking, blow-karting, gliding, abseiling, hand biking and wheelchair rugby.

Three years ago, he set his sights on making the NZDF Invictus Games team.

His work has paid off and he will be competing in archery at this year’s games.

‘‘I just sort of lost track of the army and that life. Just through chance, through ParaFed Canterbury, I was told about the Invictus Games, so I gave it a try,’’ he said.

‘‘Being back in the Defence Force regime and family has been really good.

‘‘There’s no-one who has an attitude – everybody is equal and everybody cheers everyone else on. It’s a really good environment to be in.’’

Philip’s mother, Jill, said being back in a military environment and being accepted by the team had provided her son with the camaraderie he experienced when serving.