Elizabeth Marks: US Soldier returns Invictus Games gold medal to UK hospital that saved her life

Marks handed the medal back to Prince Harry

Sgt Elizabeth Marks and Prince Harry

(PA)

A soldier competing in the Invictus Games has returned her gold medal to the Cambridgeshire hospital that saved her life.

Sergeant Elizabeth Marks, from Arizona, collapsed with a lung condition on the eve of the first Invictus games in London in 2014. She was taken to Papworth Hospital in Cambridgeshire where she was put in an induced coma before being put on a life-support machine which saved her life.

Now, competing at the second Invictus games in Orlando, Florida, the 25-year-old has won four gold medals for swimming events.

After being presented with a medal by Prince Harry - the founder and ambassador of the games - she asked him to instead give it to Papworth which he said he will ensure happens.

Sgt Marks receives a gold medal from Prince Harry

(PA)

The hospital has tweeted their thanks to Sgt Marks, which she said made her “cry like a baby”.

Dr Roger Hall, the medical director of the hospital said: "The team here at Papworth are extremely proud to hear that Elizabeth has asked to donate her medal to Papworth, this is extremely generous and unexpected […] this news will mean a lot to all the staff at Papworth who work tirelessly to provide the very best care possible to our patients”.

Sgt Marks is still in the US army, having joined when she was 17. She suffered a hip injury in 2010 which left her with no sensation in her left leg. She began swimming as part of her rehabilitation and won every event she entered at the Games.

Additional reporting by the Press Association.