Atlanta, GA 12/9/2010 12:49:34 AM
Britain's Queen Elizabeth praised the bravery of a soldier she presented a gallantry award to yesterday (07.12.10).
Corporal Ricky Furgusson marched up to the queen to collect the
Military Cross at the ceremony in Buckingham Palace despite losing both
legs and an eye in Afghanistan in January.
The monarch awarded him the third most senior military medal after his
fifth attempt to rescue blast-injured comrades ended with Ricky being
so badly injured he almost died.
The soldier - who walked with the aid of new £32,000 carbon fibre legs
- said afterwards: "The queen told me she'd heard I was a brave soldier
and was pleased with what I have done."
The 25-year-old of 4th Battalion The Rifles - who also lost fingers and
needed facial skin grafts following the bomb blast - added to Britain's
Metro newspaper: "I've been having a bit of a problem with the legs not
fitting properly.
'"I've had to stuff all sorts down there to make them comfortable, even bath sponges.
"But I still managed to walk in them up to the queen, that's what I wanted to do and that's what I did."
