Nigel Whiteley said archery has helped him cope with blindness

Nigel Whiteley joined the archery club at St Dunstan's in Brighton to help him overcome the shock of losing his sight.

He is now a British champion and also won gold in his category at the Internacionale Tiroconl'arco.

"Starting archery has helped to control the bewilderment and lessen the anger of losing my sight," he said.

Medically discharged

Mr Whiteley, of Seven Sisters Road, Eastbourne, was a Chief Petty Officer Medical Assistant, serving for 25 years in the Royal Navy.

He was medically discharged after contracting a tropical virus that led eventually to blindness, also losing his home which was tied to the job.

St Dunstan's, which cares for ex-service personnel who have impaired vision, helped his rehabilitation and provided him with a new home.

Mr Whiteley said: "I didn't know what I was going to do. I was frustrated, I was angry, I was bewildered.

"Now I can live a life that anyone can live."

Blind archers use a tactile sight in the form of a hand rest on a tripod which is set in line with the target.

A sighted guide helps the archer to line up correctly and tells them where the arrow hits.