Tri-Service

US Soldier Returns Invictus Gold To Prince Harry

A US soldier whose life was saved by a British hospital has given her Invictus Games gold medal to Prince Harry to return to the medical team that saved her from the brink.

After the Prince placed the medal around the neck of Sergeant Elizabeth Marks, she publicly asked him to return it to Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, which had provided the combat medic with critical care.

The UK swimming team won a clutch of medals during the fourth day of the games, being staged in Orlando, Florida, but the heartfelt gesture from the American captured the imagination of the crowds.

On the eve of the first games in 2014 Sgt Marks, 25, from Arizona, became gravely ill when she collapsed with a serious lung condition and was put into an induced coma. She said:

"I landed in London and became very ill very rapidly. I was in hospital in London and went into respiratory distress syndrome. They shipped a team down from Papworth who put me on to ECMO [extracorporeal membrane oxygenation] life support and that ultimately saved my
life."

"And when they did so I was on it for 10 days and ended up waking in an army hospital in Germany having no idea what had happened.

"They absolutely saved my life and I can't thank the UK enough for having that kind of medical support and taking such good care of me."

"So I gave Prince Harry one of my medals and hope it will find its way back to Papworth."

Fighting back the tears, she paid tribute to the NHS, saying: "Thank you, I'll never be able to repay you, but what you're doing is wonderful."

Sgt Marks, who joined the US army aged 17, suffered a serious hip injury in 2010 which left her with no sensation in her left leg but she has battled back to fitness and still serves in the military.

Earlier this week she joined Prince Harry on ESPN to discuss the spirit of competitors at the games - just click below to watch.

US swimmer Elizabeth Marks joined Prince Harry on @ESPN to discuss the spirit of competitors at #InvictusGames2016: https://t.co/H3u9dXBVI3
— Invictus Games 2016 (@InvictusOrlando) 11 May 2016

She won all four swimming events she entered at the Invictus Games for injured military and veterans, but decided to give her 100 metre freestyle gold to the hospital as it had been touched by the Prince, she said. Sgt Marks added:

"It's just an honour to be here and stand next to all the other soldiers, I can't think of anything else I'd rather be.

"I was a little apprehensive, I was nervous because of what had happened last time but I was eager to perform and show my team and show the other countries how much I love their support.

"When I came out of my coma to see all the pictures of them supporting me while I was there, without even knowing I was in that state, made me cry like a baby so it was a chance to give something back."

Sgt Marks was struck down by the serious illness just before she competed in the first Invictus Games.

After her success in the pool at the Orlando Games she said she was looking forward to competing in the Paralmypics in Rio this summer in four swimming events.

Claire Tripp, Interim Chief Executive at Papworth Hospital, said:

“We are delighted to hear that Elizabeth has won a gold medal at the Invictus games following her treatment at Papworth Hospital."

"Our staff pride themselves on offering the very highest standard of patient care and we are all delighted to hear of Elizabeth’s extraordinary achievement.