Amputee Veteran Completes 5K Challenge For Forces Charities

A former Royal Engineer who chose to have his leg amputated last year has completed a 5K walking challenge to raise money for forces charities.

Jon Hilton completed the distance unaided with his new prosthetic limb.

Speaking to Forces News about the challenges of coming to terms with life after his operation, he said: "I cried so much, and the pinnacle point was, I'd got out of the shower and I was just drying myself, I was drying my residual limb.

"The reality had finally hit me that I was an amputee – I might never run, I might never play rugby, but I told myself that day I will walk again."

Mr Hilton was medically discharged from the Army in 2009 after having picked up rugby injuries.

It left him in agony for 10 years, until his decision to have his lower left leg amputated.

He said: "I had this mindset that I was going to be walking in four to six weeks and obviously that didn't happen, sadly I had a fall in December which was four weeks after my original amputation which caused me extensive damage.

"I needed to be rushed into emergency surgery for another amputation to shorten my stump."

Having been fitted with the prosthetic in January, he decided he needed to set himself a challenge.

"I crossed the finish line and I just broke down. It was a mix again of pain, but the fact that I'd done it because, at the start, I actually didn't believe I could," he added.

Mr Hilton hopes he can inspire others and wants to take on future challenges.