News
Their Royal Highnesses host a reception for wounded servicemen and women at Highgrove
22nd July 2011
The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall hosted a reception for wounded servicemen and women today at Highgrove, their home in Gloucestershire.
During the event, a soldier who lost both his legs after being caught in an explosion in Afghanistan met one of the men who evacuated him from the scene.
Many of the servicemen and women at the reception, were from The Prince and The Duchess’s own regiments.
Among those invited was Military Cross holder Corporal Ricky Furgusson, of 4 Rifles, who suffered life-changing injuries when he was on patrol in Sangin, Afghanistan, in January last year. The Duchess is Royal Colonel of 4th Battalion The Rifles.
After being treated on the ground by members of his team, Corporal Furgusson was evacuated from the scene by helicopter and taken to Camp Bastion. He was then transferred to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.
Today Corporal Furgusson met Flight Lieutenant Matt Haslam, one of the medics on the Chinook helicopter which flew him to Camp Bastion field hospital.
Corporal Furgusson said: "I respect the RAF in so many ways. If it wasn't for the RAF I genuinely probably wouldn't be here now, because I should have been gone."
Their Royal Highnesses spent time talking to the wounded soldiers, who were accompanied by relatives and carers, as well as staff from the Headley Court rehabilitation centre and other support organisations which assist injured service personnel.