Tri-Service
Aiming For Recovery: Royal Marine Enters Paralympic Shooting Contest
A Royal Marine who contracted a rare illness while on duty in Afghanistan has secured a place at the Rio Paralympics.
Corporal Phil Eaglesham has made a success of target shooting, despite his condition that limits his movement.
Lieutenant Mo Morris, Corporal Eaglesham's full-time helper, has said:
"Getting out of bed is a struggle, getting out of the door is a struggle, trying to find the ramp to go up a curb is a struggle, but shooting is something that he is progressing at".
As a marine, Corporal Eaglesham went to Iraq once, and to Afghanistan twice.
During his second tour in Afghanistan, Phil contracted Q Fever, which has left him with chronic weakness and fatigue and is believed to come from spores in the ground kicked up by IEDs, firefights, sandstorms, or helicopters.
As the disease progressed, Phil considered ending his life, but what helped save him was a newly discovered talent for shooting.
Phil's focus has been the Rio Paralympics.
"I'm not going there just to turn up, I'm going there to try and win a medal".
Phil's event, called SH2 Target Shooting, is on the 13th of September.
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