Former marine who lost both legs in Afghanistan explosion to compete in Rio Paralympics

• ITV News report by Paul Davies

A former marine who became a double amputee while serving in Afghanistan has been selected to compete in the Rio 2016 Paralympics.

Joe Townsend suffered life-changing injuries when he lost both his legs after stepping on a landmine, and is now hoping to bring home a gold for Britain.

ITV News first spoke to him shortly after he became an amputee, and he said he "couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel".

But now, after four years of intense training, Joe has been named in the 11-strong Great Britain Paratriathlon squad.

Joe, 28, from Polegate, in East Sussex, said: "It just proves life goes on and I've managed to make something of my life again."

The paratriathlon team he joins will all compete in a relatively new sport which combines wheelchair racing, wheelchair biking and swimming.

He has undergone 50 operations since his injury, and has battled back to fitness by pushing himself and taking part in endurance sports.

He was the first wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman Triathlon - one of the world's toughest endurance events - in 2011.

The Ironman Triathlon sees competitors undertake a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle race, and a marathon-length 26.2-mile run.

His proud mother Debbie Bareham said: "I had every faith he'd be there, but a lot of hard work has gone into this.

"Since he's found sport, it's changed everything."

He is optimistic about his chances in the Paralympics, and said: "If I can race as I have been in training and deliver what I know I can deliver, then I've got a good chance of getting on that podium.

"It's going to be exciting!"