Determined hero cheered in torch relay defiance

The 27-year-old paratrooper, who lost both legs and suffered back and brain injuries in a bomb attack in 2006, is the most seriously injured soldier to survive the conflict in Afghanistan.

His determination to walk his 300-metre stretch from Doncaster’s Cenotaph on his prosthetic limbs without using crutches was applauded by thousands of well-wishers including 50 comrades from the 7 Para Royal Horse Artillery.

He completed his stretch along Bennetthorpe in about 26 minutes.

He was cheered by crowds 10 deep with every step he took in some of the most emotional scenes of the relay yet.

After getting back into his wheelchair he said: “I am so proud. I didn’t realise how much support I had. I was amazed.”

Asked how he felt he said: “A million pounds.”

His mother Diane Dernie said: “He knew he could do it. So many people told him he couldn’t do it, but he was not having that. We knew he’d do it.”

She added: “This town has been such a wonderful place for Ben. I’m just so proud of everybody. Whatever he does, Doncaster’s behind him.”

The soldiers from L/Bdr Parkinson’s unit came all the way from their base in Colchester, Essex, to support him.

Major Dave Walker said: “I think anyone here would have crawled over broken glass, quite frankly, to come and show Ben our support.

“Everyone in the regiment is tremendously proud of the progress that he’s made against incredible adversity.”

Sergeant Adam Colin, who served alongside L/Bdr Parkinson in Afghanistan, said: “We’re just here to show our support to Ben - cheer him on and show how fantastically well he’s done and is doing.

“We’re very, very proud of him so we’re here to give our big support to him and just let him know we’ll always be there for him.”

The torch arrived in the town after travelling through Sheffield, Rotherham, Dalton, Thrybergh, Conisbrough and Warmsworth yesterday morning.

The flame then visited Armthorpe, Dunsville and Hatfield, where Yorkshire bade it farewell as it was carried into Lincolnshire.

More than a million people have lined the region’s streets since the torch reached the east coast onMonday – the biggest turnout in a county so far.

The Olympic flame spent six and a half days in the region, the longest in any county outside London.

Over the last two weeks, it has visited all four corners of the region, visiting landmarks such as York Minster and Aysgarth Falls, and attractions including the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Rotherham’s Magna Science Adventure Centre and The Deep in Hull.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and chairman of Yorkshire Gold, said: “It has been an enormous undertaking and I want to thank everyone involved, particularly the local authorities and the police for their amazing efforts to ensure this was such a huge success.

“The torch has been a great opportunity for us to show off our great county to the world.

“We have had camera crews from as far away as Australia covering the torch as it made its way through the county.

“We hope that the torch relay team have enjoyed being here as much as we have enjoyed having them.”

The flame is now scheduled to visit Bolsover and Chesterfield before ending up at Chatsworth house in Derbyshire some time on Friday afternoon.

The torch is due to reach the Olympic Stadium in east London on Friday July 27 for the Games’ opening ceremony.