Prince Charles has said the number of
British troops being injured daily in Afghanistan - where his youngest
son Harry is currently serving his second tour of duty - is
'astonishing'.
The Prince of Wales said the public hears little about the number of British service personnel being wounded in Afghanistan and the 'horrific experiences' many soldiers are going through.
He made the comments as he opened a £16.9 million complex at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) for wounded service personnel at Headley Court in Surrey, where green-fingered Charles enjoyed a tour of the gardens and even tried out some yoga stretches with patients.
The Prince of Wales said: 'So
often people don't hear about the number of people who are wounded on a
daily basis in Afghanistan.
'It is only when you visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (where battlefield casualties are repatriated to) or here that you realise how many people are going through such horrific experiences. It is astonishing.
'It makes me feel incredibly small and humble, what they have been through, what they go on to do and the inspiration they provide to others.'
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall toured the facility before opening the £16.9 million, 48-bed Jubilee Rehabilitation Complex, which includes therapy rooms and a gym for rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and a workshop for hi-tech prosthetic limbs.
The couple met several
ex-soldiers, including some who became members of the GB Paralympic
squad which achieved so much at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
They included discus thrower Derek Derenalagi, 37, who was pronounced dead when he lost both his legs following a Taliban bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2007.
He survived after a medic at Camp Bastion discovered he still had a pulse. It was while he was recuperating at Headley Court that he was watching the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, and was inspired to take part in the London games.
Four years later, the former private in the Second Battalion the Mercian Regiment took his place in the Olympic Stadium to compete in the discus final at London 2012, finishing in 11th place.
He said Charles had congratulated him on his achievement at the games when they spoke.
'It is great to see him and Camilla supporting injured soldiers and coming to Headley Court to see the change you can make from being injured in the frontline to getting back to normal life again,' he said.
'It is inspiring.'
The royal couple also met sitting
volleyball player Netra Rana, of the First Battalion Royal Gurka Rifles
and Paralympic cyclist Terry Byrne, who both also benefited from the
centre’s care after being wounded in Afghanistan.
They were joined by Paralympic triathlete Joe Townsend, who brought the flame into the stadium for the opening ceremony and who hopes to take part in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, when his sport makes its debut.
They also met representatives of several charities which work with injured personnel.
Charles, known for his love of
gardening and plants, also toured Headley Down’s gardens, which are
maintained by service personnel, while Camilla toured the accommodation
and met more injured servicemen and women.
They were both then shown the workshop where senior prosthetic technician Steve Lambert showed them a myoelectric arm, which uses electrical impulses in upper arm muscles to control and move a false hand.
Group Captain Clare Walton, the commanding officer of the DMRC, said the new facility would greatly help wounded personnel.
'What we have added here provides flexibility to those who are less mobile,' she said.
'I think it is a huge moral boost to know the public and the Royal Family care.
'It is essential to their rehabilitation to know that they are valued.'
The Prince of Wales said the public hears little about the number of British service personnel being wounded in Afghanistan and the 'horrific experiences' many soldiers are going through.
He made the comments as he opened a £16.9 million complex at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) for wounded service personnel at Headley Court in Surrey, where green-fingered Charles enjoyed a tour of the gardens and even tried out some yoga stretches with patients.
Getting involved: A laughing Prince Charles
tries out a yoga pose called 'the Tree' with amputee Marine Chay
Coulbert at Headley Court
Cost of war: The Prince of Wales, seen speaking
to injured soldier Ed Wyatt at Headley Court, has said the number of
service personnel being wounded every day in Afghanistan is
'astonishing'
Rehabilitation: Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, are shown a prosthetic arm during their visit to Headley Court
'It is only when you visit the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (where battlefield casualties are repatriated to) or here that you realise how many people are going through such horrific experiences. It is astonishing.
'It makes me feel incredibly small and humble, what they have been through, what they go on to do and the inspiration they provide to others.'
Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall toured the facility before opening the £16.9 million, 48-bed Jubilee Rehabilitation Complex, which includes therapy rooms and a gym for rehabilitation of wounded soldiers and a workshop for hi-tech prosthetic limbs.
Royal visit: Prince Charles and his wife the
Duchess of Cornwall were escorted around the new facilities at Headley
Court, where they spent time speaking to wounded soldiers
'Small and humble': Prince Charles crouches down to talk to two patients at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey
Meet and greet: The Prince of Wales spoke with injured soldiers as he observed a stretching class during his visit
Concerns: Prince Charles' youngest son Harry is currently serving in Afghanistan
They included discus thrower Derek Derenalagi, 37, who was pronounced dead when he lost both his legs following a Taliban bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2007.
He survived after a medic at Camp Bastion discovered he still had a pulse. It was while he was recuperating at Headley Court that he was watching the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing, and was inspired to take part in the London games.
Four years later, the former private in the Second Battalion the Mercian Regiment took his place in the Olympic Stadium to compete in the discus final at London 2012, finishing in 11th place.
He said Charles had congratulated him on his achievement at the games when they spoke.
'It is great to see him and Camilla supporting injured soldiers and coming to Headley Court to see the change you can make from being injured in the frontline to getting back to normal life again,' he said.
'It is inspiring.'
They were joined by Paralympic triathlete Joe Townsend, who brought the flame into the stadium for the opening ceremony and who hopes to take part in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, when his sport makes its debut.
They also met representatives of several charities which work with injured personnel.
Heroes: Prince Charles met met ex-soldiers who
took part in the 2012 Paralympic Games, including discus thrower Derek
Derenalagi, left
Paralympians: Prince Charles said the
achievements of wounded soldiers such as those who went on to take part
in the London Paralympic Games were an 'inspiration' to others
London Games: The Prince of Wales speaks to Joe
Townsend of the Royal Marines, who zip-wired into the Olympic Stadium
carrying the Paralympic flame during the Paralympic Opening Ceremony
Achievements: Prince Charles and Camilla both spent time speaking with members of the GB Paralympic squad at Headley Court
They were both then shown the workshop where senior prosthetic technician Steve Lambert showed them a myoelectric arm, which uses electrical impulses in upper arm muscles to control and move a false hand.
Group Captain Clare Walton, the commanding officer of the DMRC, said the new facility would greatly help wounded personnel.
'What we have added here provides flexibility to those who are less mobile,' she said.
'I think it is a huge moral boost to know the public and the Royal Family care.
'It is essential to their rehabilitation to know that they are valued.'
Opening: Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is greeted
by an injured soldier as she attends the opening of a new complex at
the Headley Court rehabilitation centre with her husband Prince Charles
'Horrific experiences': Injured soldier Ben
Stoten, of the 1st Battalion Prince of Wales Regiment, speaks to Prince
Charles at Headley Court
Improved facilities: Prince Charles speaks to a
Headley Court patient in a garden designed to test balance of different
types of terrain
Headley Court: Prince Charles was at Headley
Court to open the new Jubilee Rehabiliation Complex, which features
therapy rooms and a workshop for hi-tech prosthetic limbs
Injuries: The Prince of Wales and Camilla were given a tour of the new facilities at the Surrey rehabilitation centre
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