Royal Marine veteran opens up on GB News about remarkable invention empowering wheelchair users

During his third tour of Afghanistan in 2010, Mr Eaglesham was left with chronic disabilities after he contracted Q fever.

Following his diagnosis, the Northern Irish hero went on to represent Ireland in Paralympic competitions, including Rio 2016, after he was introduced to para shooting in 2012.

Now, the former corporal has designed an all-terrain elevating wheelchair, which has been lauded for reducing social stigma and empowering disabled users.

He further discussed his business, Conquering Horizons, which was set up with the support of the Royal Navy and Marines Charity, to create the manoeuvrable and all-encompassing wheelchairs.

Speaking about his journey, he told the People's Channel: "I spent 12.5 years in a powered wheelchair. And really, when I went into a powered wheelchair, mentally, I didn't want to go out.

"I sat in the seat for six months, and I didn't want to be alive because they were very limiting. You need to have two or three chairs to do different jobs.

"So I set about a sort of task of designing something that would make me feel like that former Royal or that Royal Marine again, and get me out and about and do everything that I wanted to do."

Asked why he was spurred on to create such an wheelchair, Mr Eaglesham said: "Having 24-hour care becomes quite mentally draining and when you're having to ask people to do stuff.

"So I wanted to design something that I could be as independent as possible and possibly help others.

"So normally you would buy a chair and it might do indoors and take it to the shops, and then you have to have another one to go up and do some four wheel drive or are up into the hills. I don't think people realise that actually most people probably thought it was one wheelchair which did the lot."

Mr Eaglesham explained he wanted to be able to do everything and have his limitation caused by his own body rather than his chair.

He said: "I'm used to seeing my friends who are amputees and all go and doing these amazing things, and my wheelchair wasn't able to do that.

"So I wanted to design something that that will do everything that will allow me to be independent at my home."

Mr Eaglesham said he developed a sense of empowerment being able to reach the top shelf of a cupboard, as well as being able to hold his wife's hand while out in public.

"Living life at this height isn't very pleasant. It feels like you're a problem. You're in the street and people don't see you. So we designed our own lifted mechanism," he explained.

The Royal Marines Charity supported Mr Eaglesham to start the business as the veteran handed out thanks to both the charity and the public.

He said: "The only reason I am here today is because charities have supported me, and that's the British public.

"People who've put pound in a jar have helped save my life. And part of this is paying that forward."

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