Marathon agony of injured marine

Ben McBean has raised nearly �11,500 for Help for Heroes

A Plymouth Royal Marine who completed the London Marathon despite losing two limbs in Afghanistan has said it was "pure agony" from start to finish.

Ben McBean lost his left arm and right leg when a mine exploded last year.

The 22-year-old was one of 317 people who tackled the gruelling run to raise money for the Help for Heroes charity.

"The embarrassment of failing meant I had to keep going," Marine McBean said. He finished the 26.2 miles (42km) in six hours, 20 minutes and 24 seconds.

Even if I'd had to walk the whole way, I'd have finished

Ben McBean

"It was just the stump that caused the the pain - the rest of me was fine," he told BBC News.

"The stump started bleeding pretty much immediately because the skin peeled off as soon as I put the leg on.

"It was pure agony when I started, but thankfully it only got a bit worse after that."

Marine McBean, who has raised nearly £11,500 for Help for Heroes, said not finishing the marathon, was never an option for him.

Everest challenge

"Even if I'd had to walk the whole way, I'd have finished," he said.

"I got through it because I didn't want to let anyone down and I wanted to prove to my family and myself that I was looking forward to the future."

The brave marine's next big challenge will be taking part in Exercise Khumbu Challenge.

It will involve various physical challenges in the Khumbu region of Nepal at Everest base camp next October and November and will involve five teams (about 90 personnel) from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, including those wounded or traumatised in Iraq or Afghanistan.