Prince Harry saved my life and I’ll forever be thankful, says former RAF sergeant

A former RAF sergeant whose emotional rendition of a poem moved those at the 10th Anniversary service for The Invictus Games to give her a standing ovation had her life saved by Prince Harry.

Michelle Turner, 43, her husband John and her 13-year-old daughter Maya, stood shoulder to shoulder as they recited the poem and moved the audience, which included the prince, along with his uncle Earl Spencer and his auntie Lady Jane Fellows, to tears.

She never thought she would be able to compete in sports again due to a heart condition, which led her to suffer unannounced collapses, exhaustion and dizziness and confined her to home.

Michelle, of Manchester, had her life turned around after being given the offer of taking part in the Invictus Games training camp.

She was given the chance to compete in rowing, powerlifting and swimming, as Invictus relies upon sport to transform the lives of wounded veterans.

“Prince Harry has truly transformed lives with the Invictus Games.

“He really believes that people can recover from the worst injuries and trauma through sport and he has made a world of difference to people like me – we cannot thank him enough,” she said.

Michelle and her family were among the veterans who took part in a reception in the crypt following the conclusion of the cathedral service.

She added: “The boss of the Invictus Games Dominic Reid called us up and asked if we could prepare something for the Cathedral.

“We were totally shocked and a bit overwhelmed to be honest but we also felt very honoured to be asked so we all chipped in and contributed our bits.. We are delighted with the reaction.”

Read the moving poem the Turner family recited about the impact of Invictus in full below…

Michelle Turner, Captain Team UK IG Sydney 2018, Team Ambassador Hague 2022 and Dusseldorf 2023

John Turner,

Maya Turner

We fought for our country on deployments far and wide,

Devoted our years and served with pride.

Camaraderie, loyalty, trust and sacrifice,

We’d do anything for our country, whatever the price.

But life didn’t go according to plan, and our military careers would end:

We were made to face a future we could never comprehend.

‘Thank you for your Service, but I’m afraid you have to leave’.

No uniform, no rank, no flag on our sleeve.

Wounded, injured, sick and now with no career:

Consumed by insecurities, the pain and the fear.

Our lives were upside down, how could it be,

That the little girl I was meant to protect, was now looking after me.

I felt like I was losing my mum, she was in hospital all the time.

When I was four, I saved her life by dialling 999.

Our life was now different, she wouldn’t leave the front door,

Please try the Invictus Games, Mum, we can’t go on like this anymore.

She was brave and said yes – we joined the Invictus family.

I met other boys and girls going through the same as me,

Together we help each other – above and beyond.

We have a special connection, an Invictus kids’ bond.

I was a husband in a lonely place, the nights I laid awake,

Longing for her to smile, longing for her to wake.

And then comes Invictus, a beacon of trust and hope,

A place where families can find new ways to cope.

Families strengthened, by the Games they attend.

Doesn’t matter which country – you’ll always have a friend.

With each barrier broken, new goals are met.

Determination grows and new challenges are set.

With Invictus support we are coming through the other side.

It’s been hard, it’s been tough – one hell of a ride,

Through sport, Michelle rose, stronger each day:

This new found confidence is here to stay.

Our friends and family have seen us through each challenge we’ve faced.

Our biggest supporters, no matter the race,

Picking up the pieces keeping us together,

Hope we’ve made you proud, we promise to keep it up forever.

The power of sport, has forever united us all,

From the pool to the track, to wheelchair basketball,

From the battlefield to the sports field, good times and bad,

Comraderie and laughter, tears happy and sad.

It’s our honour to forever be part of this incredible team,

At the games and Beyond the Games, we now always dare to dream,

We carry on regardless, try to be the best we can be,

Unconquered role models for the world to see.

Thank you Invictus for giving me my mum back;

Thank you Invictus for giving me my wife back;

Thank you Invictus for giving me my life back.

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