Royal Marine who misplaced arm and leg in Afghanistan is denied blue badge
A double-amputee ex-Royal Marine dubbed a ‘hero’ by Prince Harry and the Invictus Games after shedding his arm and leg in Afghanistan has been refused a blue badge as a result of he ‘does not formally meet the factors’.
Ben McBean, 36, from Plymouth, was hit by a landmine blast in Helmand Province in 2008 on the age of simply 20.
The father-of-two was initially handed a blue badge after returning to the UK earlier than council bosses revoked it after seeing him use a prosthetic blade to run the London Marathon in assist of Help For Heroes.
Thirteen years later, former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer intervened and helped Mr McBean get the badge again – just for his renewal utility to now be denied.
‘I do not know what extra I’ve acquired to do to be trustworthy. I simply did not meet sure standards,’ Mr McBean advised TalkTV.
Ben McBean (pictured operating the London Marathon in 2009) misplaced an arm and a leg when he was blown up by a landmine in Helmand province, Afghanistan, in 2008, aged simply 20
Speaking on TalkTV, Mr McBean mentioned he doesn’t know ‘what extra I’ve acquired to do’ to be eligible for the badge
‘It’s bizarre, after I first acquired one again in 2008 after I was injured I used to be simply given one.
‘When I ran the London Marathon a yr later for Help for Heroes they took it off me as a result of I had proved I may run, mainly.
‘So I did not have one for 13 years after which Johnny Mercer fortunately stepped in and acquired me my badge again. That lasted two or three years after which the date ran out.
‘I’ve simply tried to resume it and in the present day I acquired an e mail saying it was unsuccessful.’
He added on-line that he didn’t ‘meet the factors’ by way of his Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Plymouth Council’s web site states that individuals solely qualify routinely for a blue badge if they’ve a ‘increased fee mobility part’ of DLA.
Mr McBean had been anticipated to die on his flight residence from Afghanistan after sustaining the near-fatal accidents – however continues to be not deemed to have the suitable degree of incapacity.
The veteran additionally broke his ankle on Remembrance Sunday, which suggests he’s even much less cellular than he normally can be on one leg.
He mentioned: ‘It’s my one and solely ankle, so I may actually do with a badge to be trustworthy.
‘I used to be at hospital in the present day however clearly I am unable to park at any nearer bays as a result of my badge is outdated and I’ve been rejected a brand new one.’
The former Royal Marine misplaced his left arm and proper leg when he was blown up in Helmand Province by an IED in 2008
Former Royal Marine Ben (left) shares a joke with Prince Harry (proper) in 2017 after finishing his 31-mile run by means of the streets of London, creating the define of a large poppy on his route
He added he can attraction the choice, however mentioned: ‘It can take as much as 12 weeks to get a response and clearly I’ve acquired a damaged ankle now.’
Even when Mr McBean has held a blue badge, the struggle hero has been accused of faking his incapacity by members of the general public.
While parking in his residence metropolis of Plymouth, somebody complained to a visitors warden that he was utilizing a pretend badge after he exited his automotive whereas sporting skin-coloured prosthetics on his leg and arm.
Speaking to MailOnline on the time, Ben claimed he was accosted by a lady who had seen him get out of his automotive and hadn’t noticed his prosthetic arm and leg.
He mentioned: ‘There was actually one area in a disabled bay. I knew there can be grief as a result of I do not look disabled.
‘As quickly as I put my badge within the window some girl was shaking her head and tapping the window from a espresso store.’
When Ben returned to the automotive, he encountered the girl, two males and a visitors warden – who was issuing him with a penalty cost discover.
‘The visitors warden was there, tapping at my window, saying my blue badge was pretend – it is not, it was issued by Plymouth City Council,’ the Afghanistan veteran mentioned.
Ben, who lives in Plymouth, who was described as a hero by Prince Harry, smiles as he and triple amputee Mark Ormrod (left) obtain their medals for serving in Afghanistan
Ben and the Duke of Sussex struck up a detailed friendship after flying residence from Afghanistan collectively. Here they met at HM Naval Base Devonport, Plymouth, the place the prince launched an journey coaching expedition to the bottom of Mount Everest for injured service personnel
‘But he did not wish to look and mentioned he had already filed a report back to the council and I might be getting fined.’
Mr McBean has additionally been abused by different passersby whereas utilizing his badge whereas it was in date.
He was attending a pre-op appointment for surgical procedure to take away neuromas, or broken nerve tissue in his arm, attributable to items of shrapnel left from a Taliban roadside bomb or IED on the time.
The first time he used it to park in a disabled bay for a hospital appointment, he mentioned a lady shouted that he was a ‘authorities draining d***head’.
He added in the present day: ‘I’m not the one one. It occurs on a regular basis. I solely park within the bays if I actually need to.’
Plymouth Council has been contacted for remark.
