Hero war veteran from Bloxwich to take part in Invictus Games

Scott Yarrington, 32, from Bloxwich, will be competing in Wheelchair Basketball for this year's tournament held in Toronto, Ontario.

The 2017 event will take place from September 23 to 30 and will see more than 550 ill, injured and wounded servicemen and women from 17 allied nations compete in 12 adaptive sports.

Scott was in the army in 2005, with the Irish Guards.

He served in Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2010.

Whilst in Afghanistan on December 29, 2010, he was asked to swap teams and command another team for the day.

He was in charge of searching for improvised explosive devices along a bridge area when he stepped on it, losing both his legs.

He spent two months in the QE, before being transferred to Headley Court – the specialist defence medical rehabilitation centre near Surrey.

"I had played once or twice when I was in rehab at Headley Court," Scott explained.

"But then I was looking for something to do when I got out and there was a local wheelchair basketball team nearby where I live so I got involved with them.

"There's been no set training for the Invictus games but once I was selected I was given training weekends to attend.

"It has given me a really good base to up my training on and helped me get into shape from the dietary side too, before I would be having a few takeaways but now its turned it all around for me."

Scott said he was keen to get involved in other sports which he may be able to excel at too, but the support of his family is what drives him on.

He added: "I'm feeling really excited about it, I think it'll be a great experience. My fiancée Rachel will be flying out to share it with me too.

"Ultimately I would just like to thank her and my family for all they do."