Articles | Hero private offered £161,000

'Harry's hero' given just £161,000

Published: Wednesday, 17 September 2008, 10:36PM

A commando who lost two limbs in Afghanistan has been offered just £161,000 in compensation.

The amount offered to Royal Marine Ben McBean is £124,000 less than the maximum payout of £285,000.

The 21-year-old became a national hero in February after a landmine blast also left him with massive scarring and nerve and skin damage.

Marine McBean, based in Taunton, Somerset, with 40 Commando, was hailed "the real hero" by Prince Harry, who flew home from Afghanistan on the same plane.

He is one of the most prominent faces of the Help For Heroes charity, which raises money for injured war veterans.

His mother, Joyce Cockburn, reportedly begged the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to increase the payout, saying the offer is not enough to support her disabled son.

A spokesman for the MoD said the compensation offer is likely to be increased by more than £114,000 after the Government's recent changes to the rules on compensation.