Britain’s first triple amputee to survive injuries inflicted by an IED in Afghanistan may have to re-mortgage his house to raise £115,000 — for new limbs.
Mark Ormrod lost both legs and his right arm after he stood on a Taliban landmine and was later dubbed a “real hero” of the war by Prince Harry.
Mark, 29, needs new limbs but says the ones he needs do not qualify for new Government funding for replacements.
The Government is to spend £6.5million for micro-processor limbs, known as ‘bionic legs’, which Mark will qualifies for.
But Mark says these are not good enough and the replacement limbs he needs are only available privately with much of the Government funding “ring fenced in the NHS”.
Marks says he feels “let down” and “deflated” and he needs to borrow money against his house to afford his limbs.
He said: “I think I was a little bit more let down than angry. I really thought this may have been the turning point. I feel deflated.
“It’s going to cost me £115,000. I will have to re-mortgage my house, or start a fundraising campaign.
“I rely on my limbs every day of my life. As an individual my circumstances need me to have a better level of care. There’s just no funding for it.”
Mark, of Plymouth, Devon, lost three of his limbs in a landmine blast on Christmas Eve 2007.
They will be available to service personnel who have been wounded in Iraq or Afghanistan, and will offer them greater stability and mobility.
A spokesman for The Ministry of Defence said one of its top priorities ”has always been to give our troops the best possible care and support”.
It added: “That’s why this government has made £6.5m available to guarantee that all serving and former members of our armed forces who have been injured while serving their country in Iraq or Afghanistan will have access to the latest prosthetics currently available on the market, where clinical conditions indicate that this is appropriate.”
