A former enlisted Royal Marine has been denied a handicap parking permit despite losing two limbs while serving.
33-year-old Ben McBean from the UK is a Royal Marine who lost his leg and arm after stepping on a landmine while serving in Afghanistan.
Despite the injuries he had sustained, McBean had his blue badge taken away from him by council officials who didn’t deem him “disabled enough” to have a handicap parking permit.
The Plymouth Council’s decision to strip the veteran of his parking permit was made back in 2009 after the Marine was seen running a marathon with the help of his prosthetic leg.
“Lost two limbs in Afghan 08! Ran the London marathon in 09! Council took my disability badge off me because I ran,” McBean wrote in his recent Twitter post.
“13yrs later I’m in the same boat. Frustrating now as sometimes even though I hate to admit it. I could use it here and there just to help me out a bit. Idiots!”
Following an outpouring of support for the veteran, McBean added:
“Last night I posted a tweet regarding my blue badge. I was having a phantom pain riddled couple of days and it can cause flashbacks, so I don’t sleep. Tired, I posted just one of the many annoying things I experience. Thanks for all the support. I will seek help and apply again.”
After the Royal Marine’s story came to light and to the attention of the Veterans Charity and the veterans’ minister, MP Johnny Mercer, McBean has finally received some good news whereas the council ensured “the situation is on its way to being resolved.”
According to the Plymouth City Council, they have also reached out to the 32-year-old and offered him help in filling out his blue badge application form.
Replaced!