Rifleman meets Princes at rugby match (From Enfield Independent)

Rifleman meets Princes at rugby match

1:51pm Tuesday 9th February 2010

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ONE of Enfield’s bravest living servicemen met Princes William and Harry for a second time last weekend.

Jack Otter, of Enfield, lost both legs and an arm on September 6 last year when an improvised explosive device detonated while he was on patrol in the Upper Sangin Valley, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

He celebrated his 21st birthday in April in an operating theatre.

Rifleman Otter was given a seat in the VIP box at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday to watch England beat Wales in the first match of the Six Nations Championship.

He and three other servicemen recuperating at Headley Court, a rehabilitation centre in Surrey, were greeted by Princes William and Harry before the game.

Warrant officer Bob Toomey, who accompanied the servicemen on the trip, said: “The Princes came down before the match and spoke to each one for several minutes, talking about the event and how they were getting on in rehab. It was fantastic, they were buzzing all day."

They lined the tunnel where the players come out of the changing rooms, and were on the pitch for the national anthem.

Rifleman Otter was one of 11 soldiers from the 2nd Battalion The Rifles battle group who suffered life-changing injuries. Another 23 died.

He previously met the Princes at a military awards event in the Imperial War Museum in December where he and the soldiers of 2 Rifles won the Sun Military Award for best unit.

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