Soldiering On Invictus Star's Triumph Over Trauma

The shell-shocked sergeant heals through sport

- Steve Landells

Losing a close friend in the line of duty and suffering a debilitating injury, battle-weary Kelly Whittle returned home a broken woman until a royally inspired sports competition set her on the road to recovery.

Injured and struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder after experiencing harrowing events while serving in Afghanistan, the former army medic knows that those competing in this month’s Invictus Games are in for a life-changing experience.

“It’s hard to put into words the importance of the games,” explains Kelly, 34. “Once you go to an event and see others

in the same situation, you feed off one another. It enables you to find different avenues to help yourself.”

Now an army sergeant at the Joint Forces headquarters in Wellington, her life has been transformed by the power of the international sporting event started by Prince Harry four years ago. As the New Zealand team co-captain, she’s looking forward to helping others.

“I didn’t think I was senior enough or good enough for the role,” Kelly says. “But I guess management saw me as being able to mentor the newbies on the team.”

Born and raised on a Southland farm, it was during a brief stint working at a rest home in Gore that she applied to join the army at age 17 because she was bored.