LOCAL hero Corie Mapp represented Great Britain at the Para-bobsleigh World Cup in Calgary, Canada at the weekend.

The wounded ex-serviceman and father of three from Swindon, who was nearly killed while on tour in Afghanistan during 2010, is competing in the second-ever World Cup series having won gold at the first-ever championships in Igls, Austria earlier this year.

The former Lance Corporal lost both legs when his military vehicle ran over an IED while on patrol in Helmand. The explosion resulted in his left leg being completely severed, while his right leg later had to be amputated.

He also had severe injuries to his left hand, a collapsed lung and a broken jaw. He was extracted and flown by helicopter to be treated in Camp Bastion Medical Hospital and was later flown to Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham.

He remained in an induced coma for eight days while undergoing further surgery, including facial reconstruction. But within two weeks he was walking on prosthetic limbs, and a long period of rehabilitation began.

With the support of Help for Heroes, Corie turned to sport to aid his recovery and in 2013 competed for the UK in America during the Warrior Games, the inspiration for Prince Harry’s 2014 Invictus Games where he also competed and captained the British sitting volleyball team to a gold medal with a 3-0 win over USA in the final.

Louise Watson, Help for Heroes sports recovery manager and IBSF para-sport representative, said: “Corie is a great athlete; he’s a real ambassador for the sport. It’s fantastic to see him doing so well, he has such focus and dedication.

“Para-bobsleigh is a great sport. The athletes race in a one seat ‘mono-bob’ so it’s all down to their driving ability. It’s really competitive.”

Corie finished sixth in the first race in Canada following a disappointing second run but tweeted: “Gave it 100% so I can leave with my head held high.”

The winner of the competition was Lonnie Bissonnette, who was representing the host nation.

Corie now heads to Utah for the second and third races of the season on November 21/22.