Battle motor racing soldier gets Coldplay support

Lance Corporal Martyn Compton drives for motor racing team Team BRIT after suffering severe burns and dying three times while serving in Afghanistan in 2006. He turned to motorsport during his rehabilitation and his team are now sponsored by the Coldplay frontman after reading about Martyn’s story. “After reading an article [about me], Chris Martin from Coldplay told me he felt a connection, he felt he had to do something and he gave me a call. “We’re enormously proud to have the support of Chris Martin and Coldplay.” Martyn suffered burns on 75 per cent of his body and was shot twice after his Household Cavalry was ambushed. He was in a coma for three months and was officially confirmed dead three times but managed to recover and is now married with two children. “I thought I would give karting a go, I joined a team called Kartforce and literally have never looked back,” Martyn said. “Two things matter to me in my life now, my family and motorsport, its a way of life that I want to make a career.” From Kartforce, Martyn joined Team BRIT which aims to inspire people with disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder and mental health issues by demonstrating what can be achieved through motorsport. Martyn said: “I like to push myself and what can be better than being in a team with guys in similar situations who have gone through similar scenarios with the same ambitions.” He said he always got back up after his ordeals and wants to inspire other ex-servicemen. “This is the message I want to get across to the hundreds of thousands of my fellow injured troops who are battling with their own demons. “Just as I have done, you can re-build your life. “Soon you’ll look back on this chapter in your life and understand why you are who you are. I’m proof you can fight back. “And now I’m so thrilled that Coldplay have decided to get behind Team BRIT and support us. “Knowing we have their backing has been a massive inspiration to me. “I’m more determined than ever to become the first team of disabled servicemen to compete in the Le Mans 24hr with Team BRIT as we want to inspire and show others that they can do the same. “To enable us to continue our journey we need the support, we need sponsorship. “We want to keep showing what we are made of.” For more information and to sponsor Martyn visit: www.martyncomptonracing.co.uk. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on. 1) Make our website your homepage at www.ryeandbattleobserver.co.uk/ 2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RyeandBattleObserver 3) Follow us on Twitter @BattleObs 4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out! The Rye and Battle Observer - always the first with your local news. Be part of it.