Prince Harry has presented a US veteran’s gold Invictus Games medal to a hospital in Cambridge who saved her life in 2014.
In a meeting at Kensington Palace today, former Army Captain Wales gave Papworth Hospital and its team Sergeant Elizabeth Marks’ gold medal which she won for the 100m freestyle swimming event at last month’s Invictus Games.
Marks won all four swimming events she entered in Florida and was presented with one of her medals by Prince Harry, founder of the paralympic-style games for injured veterans.
Elizabeth dedicated her medal to @PapworthHosp @InvictusOrlando after they gave her lifesaving treatment in 2014 pic.twitter.com/8IuOEgnGPG
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 1, 2016
After receiving her medal, she publicly asked the Prince to return her 100 metre freestyle gold to Papworth Hospital and the team who saved her life in 2014, after she fell ill just before the first Inivctus Games.
Harry initially refused to take the medal, but Elizabeth approached him again and this time he accepted, in a moment that was captured on camera.
HRH meets members of @PapworthHosp at Kensington Palace with their Royal Patron, The Duchess of Gloucester pic.twitter.com/gJ0ybrqmWn
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) June 1, 2016
The 25-year-old from Arizona collapsed with a serious lung condition and was put into an induced coma.
Marks said at the games: “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.”
The Duchess of Gloucester is the hospital’s patron and joined Harry for the meeting.
Elizabeth joined the US army at 17, and suffered a serious hip injury in 2010 which left her with no sensation in her left leg. She has managed to work her way back to fitness and still serves.
