Invictus athlete brings his medals home to Fife

RAF veteran Michael hails his team and tells of ‘incredible’ time in Australia

A veteran has brought three medals home to Fife from the Invictus Games in Sydney.

Michael Mellon, the only Scot competing, won silver with both the sitting volleyball and wheelchair rugby teams and bronze in wheelchair basketball.

He said the experience was “incredible” and has added his silverware to medals he won in his first Invictus Games last year.

Michael, 38, whose leg was amputated after serious injury, said: “Toronto will always be a special place to me as that’s where my journey began but Sydney really was like nothing else.

“From the moment we touched down it was a complete whirlwind and obviously coming away with three medals was the icing on the cake for me.”

The Invictus Games were launched four years ago by Prince Harry for wounded, injured and sick armed forces personnel and veterans.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed the action played out over eight days in Sydney, alongside football star David Beckham, who Michael met.

Former RAF gunner Michael, of Cardenden, fractured his tibia and fibula bones in an RAF rugby match in 2001.

The injury led to a condition known as compartment syndrome – bleeding or swelling in the muscles – causing severe pain and nerve damage in his left leg.

Father-of-three Michael made the difficult decision to have his lower leg amputated in 2013.

After struggling with depression he returned to sport, provided with a specialist wheelchair by the RAF Benevolent Fund, which he said turned his life around.

He said the games were about “so much more than winning medals”.

He said: “Both physically and mentally, sport has played such an important role during my recovery and I could never have imagined I would be participating in sport at such a high level. Watching it from the stands in Toronto last time was awesome, so it felt good to be out on the pitch this year.

“Thanks to my awesome coach and team-mates we took the silver medal.”

Paul Hughesdon, director of welfare and policy at the RAF Benevolent Fund, said: “The rehabilitative nature of sport has been well documented and Michael is a prime example of the difference it can make.

“We are incredibly proud to have been able to help Michael and to see him compete in his second Games.”

We are incredibly proud to have been able to help Michael. PAUL HUGHESDON

Invictus Games competitor Michael Mellon won silver and bronze medals in Sydney.