A NAIL-BITING wait for a passport was worth it for a North-East veteran when he struck gold at the Invictus Games last week.

Gaz Golightly had a nervous week in June waiting to hear if he could have a fast-tracked first-time passport to allow him to travel to the US to train with a military wheelchair basketball team.

Luckily his documents were given the all-clear in time for him to attend, after which he was selected for the UK team at the Invictus Games – a Paralympic-style competition for wounded, sick and injured service personnel and veterans.

Mr Golightly, from Hartlepool, has been using Help for Heroes recovery centre Phoenix House in Catterick Garrison for the last year to help in his rehabilitation after losing a leg in a car accident in 2002.

While driving back to his barracks he was forced to swerve to avoid a car that cut in front of him.

His car rolled along a fence and the posts pierced the bottom of his car, his right leg and shattered his pelvis.

He managed to lift himself off the wooden post he was impaled on and crawl out of the car before it exploded.

His right leg had to be amputated above the knee and he lost the use of his lower left leg because of nerve damage.

He said: “Competing in the Invictus Games was just amazing.

“Everything from the opening and closing ceremonies to the competing, it was a fantastic experience.

“We were in training right up until Thursday, had a day off Friday then our games were on Saturday. We played four games in the run-up to the final and we played really well.”

The UK team stormed to a series of victories, winning 20-4 against Australia; 17-1 against France; 14-11 against Denmark; and 19-9 against the US in the final.

He added: “We thought the US team would be our biggest challenge in the final, but actually we smashed them. It was an incredible feeling – especially having my wife Denise and two daughters there watching.

“I started getting support from Phoenix House shortly after I discovered wheelchair basketball and the centre has really helped me get back on track.”

Mr Golightly said he now has his sights set on the Paralympic Games in Rio 2016 so will be continuing to play for Newcastle Eagles wheelchair basketball team.

He added: “I’ve done one season with them so I’m looking forward to getting back into playing with them.

“The best thing about the Invictus Games was probably the way the public got behind us – having that many people coming to watch and support us made it that extra bit more special.”