Injured Marathon major walks on

Maj Phil Packer hopes to cross the finish line next Saturday

A soldier who lost the use of both his legs in a rocket attack while serving in Iraq has reached the halfway mark in the London Marathon after six days.

Maj Phil Packer, 36, of the Royal Military Police, who hopes to raise £1m for soldiers' charity Help For Heroes, crossed Tower Bridge on Saturday.

Maj Packer, who is using his crutches to cover two miles each day, hopes to complete the marathon next Saturday.

The officer suffered horrific injuries in Basra in February 2008.

Maj Packer, who had been told by doctors he may never walk again, joined 35,000 other competitors at the start of the race on Sunday.

His involvement in the event comes despite the horrific injuries he sustained during an incident that followed the rocket attack.

He suffered a bruised heart and damage to his ribs and chest, and lost the motor and sensory use of his legs.

In February, Maj Packer, who lives in Westminster, central London, rowed the English Channel in about 15 hours.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version