A WAR veteran from North Yorkshire is today on his way to compete in this year's Invictus Games.

David Wiseman is a former Army captain who was shot in the chest by the Taliban while serving in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2009 - an injury which ended his military career.

Despite suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after seeing his comrades die in the field, Mr Wiseman went on to attempt to climb Mount Everest, wrote a book about his experiences, and is now part of the 90-strong team from around the UK taking part in this year’s Invictus Games.

The games are a Paralympic style event for wounded, injured and sick military personnel and veterans, and were set up by Prince Harry in 2015.

This year’s event runs in Toronto, Canada, from tomorrow until September 30, and Mr Wiseman will represent the country in the pool.

At last year’s event, Mr Wiseman swam a personal best in the breaststroke to win silver and credited it to hard work and his coaches at Team UK and at the York City Baths Club, which he joined in 2015.

Mr Wiseman, who is from Tadcaster, said: “This will be my third games and I’m hoping to improve on my personal bests attained in Florida last year as well as hopefully bring home some more medals. My current tally is five golds and four silvers across the previous two games.

“I’m very much looking forward to the competition on a personal level, but also due to the fact that I know what a positive effect it has on the whole armed forces community and beyond.”

Mr Wiseman was team captain for the UK at last year’s event, but said he was “very pleased to hand over the reins to my team mate Bernie Broad” this year.

He also thanked a number of organisations for helping the team and its supporters during the events.

He said: “The UK team are being managed by Help For Heroes with support from the Endeavour Fund. The friends and family of the competitors are being managed by the Royal British Legion, an important aspect as a key message of the games this year will be focusing on the sacrifices made by the whole family when one member serves and especially post injury.”

Also due to be on the UK team this year is Dan Phillips, who was born in York, and will compete in swimming and athletics.

He was an Army vehicle mechanic and lost a leg following injury in the field, and said sport had played a crucial part of his recovery from PTSD and anxiety issues which followed the amputation.

Mr Wiseman said he hoped the Invictus Games would help inspire the public, and anyone who had suffered an injury or trauma themselves, as well as highlighting how exercise and sport could improve people's lives.

He said: “I sincerely hope that others will be motivated by the spirit of the games and find for themselves how powerful sport can be as part of a recovery journey.”