Heroic Ben Parkinson completes Olympic Torch relay leg in Doncaster - #doncastertorch VIDEO
More than 30,000 came out to support Ben, the most seriously wounded soldier to survive the confilct in Afghanistan, along Bennetthorpe as he held aloft the flame for almost half an hour.
Speaking to the Free Press after his mamoth achievement Ben said: “I am fortunate that I came back from Afghanistan, a lot of people didn’t come back and this is why I wanted to do it for them.
“The crowd were the ones that pulled me along and kept me going.”
The paratrooper, who lost both his legs in an explosion in an Afghanistan six years ago was cheered on by his colleagues who served with him in Afghanistan as he took hold of the torch near the war memorial.
His mum Diane Dernie was also on hand to offer shouts of encouragement as police battled to keep back huge crowds who had descended on the route armed with flags and balloons.
Ben, 28, of Bessacarr, was supported on his walk by his physio who has helped him to walk again through the use of prosthetic legs.
Members of the crowd, that was more than 10 people deep in some areas, broke out into cheers and applause as determined Ben completed his journey.
For more coverage of the torch relay
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Weather for Thorne
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: East
