Furious Afghanistan war hero Ben McBean, who lost an arm and a leg to a Taliban bomb, is stripped of his blue badge
ROYAL Marine amputee Ben McBean was stripped of his blue badge yesterday – and fumed: “I don’t understand how much more disabled I have to be.”
The Afghanistan veteran was greeted by Prince Harry as a ‘real hero’ after losing an arm and leg in 2008.
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But city officials have ruled it does not comply requirements for priority parking assistancedespite only having two limbs, one of which is currently broken.
The ex-commando, 36, told The Sun: “If you’re a double amputee you have a disability, there’s no doubt about that.
“The badge was very useful for me to use, especially when I had to visit the hospital.”
Benwho cares for a broken ankle after a fall Remembrance Sundaycontinued: “I’ll be 37 next week.
“I’m not getting any younger.
“My limbs will become exhausted.
“Depriving me of the opportunity to get the help I need is wrong.
“I walk around with two limbs and one is broken, so what happens if I fall and hit my head because I have to walk longer?”
Benby Plymouthwas given a blue badge when he returned home after being blown up by the Taliban – 16 years ago today.
It was repealed a year later after he headed the London Marathon on a prosthetic leg.
He eventually got it reinstated in 2021 thanks to the local MP Johnny Mercer.
Ben has applied to extend it, but the bid was rejected by Plymouth City Council yesterday.
It told him his disability benefits are not in a high enough band to qualify.
Ben said he was also offended by the suggestion he could pay £10 to reapply.
He continued, “I won’t worry about it.
“When you fill out the form, there is no place for me to write down my injuries.
“If I could actually tell them that I’m a double amputee, it would be much easier.
“Instead, it’s a series of boxes related to benefits, and I’m not clearly ticking the right boxes, or meeting the right criteria.
“So it’s stupid.”
The municipality and the Office of Veterans Affairs have been contacted for comment.
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