A former Royal Marine described by Prince Harry as a “real hero”‘ has completed a 3,000 mile cycle tour of Britain – despite only having ONE LIMB.
Brave Mark Ormrod, 28, used just one arm to power a specially-built bike around the entire British coast.
The triple amputee cycled through torrential rain and endured the tail end of two hurricanes during his epic five-week journey.
Mark lost both legs and his right arm after he stood on a Taliban landmine while serving in Afghanistan on Christmas Eve 2007.
He was later dubbed a ”real hero” of the war by Prince Harry after the pair met at a medal ceremony.
Despite his injuries Mark, of Plymouth, Devon, has now completed a cycle ride around Britain’s coastline.
Mark completed the journey in a £2,000 specially adapted bike – which has a pedal mechanism which can be operated by hand.
He powers the bike with his left arm and with a prosthetic right arm.
Mark circumnavigated the British coast and arrived back in Plymouth on Saturday – and was given a hero’s welcome.
He said: “My whole body aches, everything. We had a lot of support all the way around, especially from the emergency services.
“It is awesome to be home. We did not expect this welcome at all, just friends and family. It’s great to have so much support.
“We’ve covered 3,000 miles in a short space of time. Like any challenge I trained and prepared.
“It was quite an epic. Pushing the hand cycle is pretty tough, it puts a lot of pressure on my left arm.
“It’s hard work, especially going up hills. The main issue was making sure there were no problems with my prosthetic limbs.
“I used my prosthetic right hand to pedal so that takes some getting used to.”
Mr Ormrod and his team of four friends took it in turns to cycle, hand cycle and run their way around the coast in a challenge dubbed ‘Tour de Forces’.
They set off from Plymouth on September 1 for an anti-clockwise trip of Britain.
They raised thousands of pounds for military charities including the Royal Marines Association, the Royal British Legion, the Semper FI Fund and the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association.
Mark was greeted home by a crowd including a guard of honour former by Royal British Legion standard bearers, his wife Becky and two children.
Royal Marine Warrant Officer Colin Shearsby was among those who welcomed back Mark and his team.
He said: “What Mark has done is inspirational to anyone who has lost a limb.”
