Ten years between Invictus Games – growing from a life-changing injury

New Zealand soldiers were conducting mission rehearsals in Bamyan to transport the New Zealand Light Armored Vehicle (NZLAV) and was exchanging live fire with an imagined enemy.

“I fired a quick succession with my rifle and then with my M203 Grenade Launcher. Suddenly I felt what felt like a concussion wave from the NZLAV 25mm gun and thought nothing of it.

“As I raised my rifle to fire again I realised something was wrong. I felt something running down my cheek. I wiped it and noticed blood. I turned to my number two and told him I thought something was wrong. His face dropped in horror,” he said.

It was later determined that a small piece of shrapnel, most likely from his M203 round, had penetrated his eye protection and into his optic nerve.

His team mates on the ground carried out the initial first aid treatment but he needed to be flown to the hospital at Bagram Air Base, near Kabul.

He immediately went into surgery and was later told he was very lucky not to have lost the eye completely. In most situations they would have just removed it straight away.

Mr McLellan can see blurry movement in his eye, but is medically blind in that eye.

“I had the retina reattached and a cornea graft as a long term fix. Unfortunately these weren’t enough to get full sight back.”

He returned to New Zealand but said he felt lost and spent most nights feeling sorry for himself and he started drinking heavily.

“Thankfully there were people in my support network in Burnham that had my back. My awesome medical officer and the doctor worked hard to get me a temporary posting to the Youth Development Unit in Burnham.

“I had always had an interest in becoming an instructor, so it was a perfect solution so I could continue my career in the military,” he said.

He is now a firefighter with Fire and Emergency New Zealand, a job he loves.

Mr McLellan will compete at the Invictus Games in Vancouver Whistler in 2025. He is no stranger to the Games he was part of the New Zealand team at the inaugural Invictus Games in 2014.

I was approached in 2013 and asked if I wanted to compete in a new sporting event created by Prince Harry. It was going to be a worldwide tournament for injured, wounded and ill service persons and was to be held in London. I was sold.

He said for him the Invictus Games in London in 2014 was a positive turning point in his recovery journey.

“Hearing stories from other competitors of what they have achieved and hurdles they have overcome that they never thought they could have me the confidence to set and strive for new goals or goals that were out of reach now I was injured.”

He said he applied for the 2025 Games because he felt he had learnt a lot in the last 12 years since his injury and in the 10 years since the first Invictus Games.

“I want to be able to share my experiences and knowledge with others that may just be starting out on their journey or having a tough time.

I feel I have grown so much since the 2014 Games where I was young and somewhat lost. Now a more senior member of the team, I feel I can help more due to my experiences. 

“I also want to enjoy the experience of the Games again, and be able to share it with my wife. She has listened to me talk about them and how awesome they are for years and I want her to be able to just see why I do.”

Mr McLellan said his family has been such a huge part of his recovery journey. His sister was with him at the 2014 Games in London.

“My family and friends have been there to support me on my low days, or make a wise crack to bring me out of a funk. Being able to share the Invictus Games with one of my sisters was just amazing.

“My fondest memory in London was finishing the 1500m final, absolutely gassed, and seeing my sister there at the finish line cheering me on. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about it,”

He said one of the things that isn’t always acknowledged is how family members support and feel when a loved one is wounded, injured or ill.

“My Dad received a phone from the surgeon to explain that my eye surgery had gone well, but added that had it not been for my eye protection the shrapnel would have gone the extra inch and penetrated my brain and killed me.

“This is not something any parent wants to ever hear.”

In Canada, Mr McLellan will compete in the winter sports of alpine skiing and skeleton. He will also captain team in the core Invictus sports of Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Rugby. 

“I am looking forward to the Skeleton as it seems like it will be a real thrill and it’s not something most people get to try.

“But mostly I am looking forward to the wheelchair sports. The Games in 2014 gave me to taste for the sports and that has grown into a real love for both wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball.

“I love the physicality and aggression of the rugby and the speed and technical aspect of basketball.

“As a team I would really like to get a win or a few in both sports, especially over the Australians who we beat in the basketball in London. As captain of the teams, I believe that our team truly has the ability to do this.

“I hope to lead the teams with mana to get some good results,” he said.

The Invictus Foundation celebrated 10 years in 2024 and provides a platform for injured, wounded and ill current and former serving members of armed forces the support needed for recovery through sport.

“I believe the Invictus Games and the Foundation afterwards are important for our wounded, Injured and sick because it gives us all a place to share their stories without judgement.

“We have the ability to meet people from all over the world and see that we are not alone and that our journey and our struggles are valid. We don’t need to be compared as better or worse than others but that we can learn from each other and move forward.

“It also provides a stage of competition where injured, wounded and ill can push and challenge themselves further than they may have thought possible.”

Still wanting more?

Head to our Invictus Games webpage(external link)