One ex-soldier's painful journey from being seriously injured on the battlefield to the Invictus Games
Ross Austen, a former corporal from the 24 Commando Engineer Regiment, has had a long and painful journey to the Invictus Games, where he is competing in the para-powerlifting event.
On Monday, Ross won silver in the 150kg event.
Before the Games, Ross told ITV News, it has been an "amazing experience", adding, "it just shows everybody that we're not all done and dusted cos you suffer from a serious injury".
In November 2008, Ross was seriously injured by a Taliban booby-trapped bomb while on patrol in Afghanistan.
ITV News has followed Ross' progress over the years, including up to and after his agonising decision to have one of his legs amputated, his rehabilitation and sports training.
Battling back
We first met the former Royal Marine in 2009 when he was one of a group of British servicemen taken by the MoD's Headley Court rehabilitation centre to the US to participate in a special "Battle Back" programme.
After his legs and knee were shattered by the IED device, Ross had to have 18 operations on his left leg.
He also sustained nerve damage and told ITV News' John Irvine there had been times when he had wondered "if it would have been better off if I had died" on the battlefield.
Despite his injuries, Ross went on to complete a marathon in Washington DC, raising $1m for military charities.
Difficult decision to have leg amputated
But less than five months later in March 2010, after more than 20 operations, Ross decided to have his left leg amputated above the knee because of the constant pain he endured.
At the time, he said: "I want closure to this whole thing and to be able to get on with my life.
"I'll probably be better off with a prosthetic leg than trying to keep my leg that's badly damaged," he added.
He also revealed he had battled depressed and feelings of anger, but had got through the dark times with the constant support of his wife Sarah, their son Aaron and his family.
The operation and recovery
Ahead of his operation in May, Ross said he was "a little bit apprehensive, but apart from that it's what I want".
A few days later, Ross told ITV News' Paul Davies he felt so much better and had no regrets.
"I was like, great, there's no pain...the last three nights sleep I've had, are probably the best in over a year since I've been injured."
One of Ross' targets after his operation was to play football again with his son Aaron.
And the next stage in achieving that ambition was learning to walk with a prosthetic leg.
As his strength and confidence using his prosthetic increased, Ross began to look to the future with increased optimism.
"Sarah is happy, she's seen a difference in my attitude and the way I am."
"Whereas before I was quite dependent on my wife, I'm up and about, I can do a lot more things for myself, it's just brilliant," he added.
Reaching new goals
Four months on, in September, Paul Davies revisited Ross as he made his three goals come true: returning to work, kicking a football with his son, and throwing away his crutches and walking hand in hand with his wife.
The family had also recently welcomed their second child Riley.
Ross' wife Sarah said: "This year has been a real turning point, everything's sort of slotted into place now after nearly two years of absolute hell."
Ross eyes Rio 2016
In October 2012, Paul Davies again caught up with Ross as he had sports training at "Help for Heroes" state of the art facility in Tedworth, Wiltshire.
He excitedly spoke about his dreams to be a member of the GB squad at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.
"To be able to stand on a podium at the end of it, 2016, with a medal with my team GB tracksuit on would be amazing," he said.
Ross will not be competing in Rio 2016 and is now aiming for 2020 Tokyo and is training as a powerlifter full-time.
"I love it, I can't get enough of it," he said, adding "I'm going to keep doing it for as long as I can".
The Invictus Games will give Ross some much needed international event experience and bring him one step closer to realising his ambitions.