A double amputee who was befriended by Prince Harry after his injury in 2008 has launched a fundraiser for a prosthetic arm so he can hold both of his children's hands at the same time.
Ben McBean, 39, suffered serious injuries in a land mine blast while serving for the Armed Forces in Afghanistan, aged just 20.
The former Royal Marine Commando, from Plymouth, had been expected to die on the flight home, on which he met Harry.
He managed to survive, however lost his left arm and right leg, requiring ten months of rehab at Headley Court Military Hospital in Surrey.
Since then, the pair have forged a friendship, with Harry declaring after he stepped off the flight: "Those are the heroes. Guys who had been blown up by a mine – serving their country doing a normal patrol."
He also described Mr McBean as "the real hero".
Harry visited Mr McBean while recovering in hospital. The veteran said: "I have seen Harry lots of times over the years. He has brought me beer and ‘Get well soon’ cards when I have been sick."
The pair stayed in touch after their first meeting, as Harry gifted the 39-year-old with cases of beer and backed his campaign for compensation from the Ministry of Defence.
A double amputee who befriended Prince Harry after his injury in 2008 has launched a fundraiser for a prosthetic arm so he can hold both of his children's hands at the same time
|GETTY
Mr McBean revealed his mum, dad and uncle have met both Harry and Prince William, describing the Duke of Sussex as "cool".
Now, having raised substantial sums for armed forces charities over the years, the double amputee is turning to public generosity to fund treatment overseas.
Despite the NHS pledging in 2022 to make bionic arms available to all amputees, Mr McBean claims he has never been offered one.
This is while attending numerous follow-up appointments and undergoing additional surgical procedures.
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Ben McBean lost his left arm and right leg dring a land mine blast in Afghanistan, requiring ten months of rehab at Headley Court Military Hospital in Surrey
|GETTY
The veteran has two children: Albie, nine, and Maddox, five, and has only been fitted with prosthetic arms since becoming an amputee.
He is now looking for a bionic fitting instead, so he can hold both of his kids at the same time.
His GoFundMe page reads: "I’m trying to raise a few quid so I can travel to another country to experience a bionic arm.
"The possibilities it’ll give me moving forward after losing mine due to a blast in Afghanistan.
"This would be a dream for me and my family. Even silly things like opening a door whilst holding a cup of tea, kids' hands, both of them."
The fundraiser currently sits at almost £22,000, 85 per cent of his £26,000 target.
Responding to the outpouring of generosity, Mr McBean wrote: "One step closer. Can't bloody believe it. Nothing like this ever happens to me. Absolutely buzzing and grateful to everyone."
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