Express & Star

War hero wins latest Black Country medal at Invictus Games

A Black Country war hero has picked up two gold medals at the Invictus Games in Australia.

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Halesowen war hero Dave Watson won gold in the discus event at the Invictus Games in Sydney, Australia

Dave Watson, who lives in Halesowen, won gold for the second year running in the discus following up on his shot put gold after a victorious week in Sydney.

The 32-year-old, originally from Preston, took part in his second games, after winning the discus gold and shot put bronze in Toronto last year.

To add to his defence of the discus title, the former serviceman picked up the shot put gold to add to his growing haul of medals.

But he didn’t stop there, beginning his winning week by picking up two silver medals in rowing – in the IR1 one-minute sprint race and the four-minute endurance race.

He’s a professional discus and shot put thrower in his day job and is aiming for Paralympic glory in the future.

Dave was injured during a tour of Afghanistan in 2010, serving in the Scots Guards.

He stood on a hidden IED when crossing a stream, after turning back to help up a friend who had slipped over.

He lost both of his legs and most of his right arm and was medically discharged from the army in 2014, after joining in 2008.

His wife Becky, aged 35, and step-son Joshua Phipps, aged 14, have been in Sydney this week supporting Dave, while his two young children, Erin, aged three, and Paige, aged one, have been waiting at home.

Dave is joined in the Black Country contingent in Australia by Clive Smith from Walsall and Karl Hinett from Dudley.

WATCH highlights featuring Clive and Karl here:

Clive captained the British wheelchair rugby team to a silver medal this week.

They lost out to host nation Australia in the final, with a score of 23-17.

The veteran Army Lance Corporal was competing in his third games after London and Toronto.

Nicknamed 'Smudge' he lost both his legs above the knee after a blast in Afghanistan in 2010.

Meanwhile Karl picked up the silver in the 1,500 metre race, in his first ever games.

All 72 members of Team UK are set to return home after the closing ceremony on October 27.