Severely injured war hero Martyn Compton admits he would struggle to cope without his loyal wife’s “enduring love”.
Michelle stayed by his side after he suffered severe burns to three-quarters of his body in a Taliban attack in Afghanistan, supporting him through 17 years of gruelling rehabilitation and more than 1,000 operations – including 100 to his face alone.
Through everything – including the tragic loss of their newborn twins – their love endured.
And so, to mark their inspirational bond, the veteran, 39, is in training to propose to Michelle all over again on their 15th anniversary – from 18,000ft up Mount Everest.
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The dad-of-two says: “They say love conquers all and we are proof of that. “Michelle is my rock, someone who has literally got me through everything, and the words ‘soul mate’ aren’t enough to describe what she means to me.”
Martyn was a lance corporal in the Army when his armoured vehicle was torn apart by a roadside bomb in Helmand province in 2006, killing three comrades.
A rocket-propelled grenade then exploded nearby, showering him with flames and shrapnel. Martyn said: “I came as close to death as it’s possible to and survived that day.”
He was so gravely injured he “died” four times in Afghanistan, was in a coma for 12 weeks and was told he would never walk again.
Yet even after her gave her the choice, Michelle, 42, refused to leave him – saying she loved him, no matter what.
They wed in July 2008, less than two years after the attack, with Martyn determined to walk on their big day.
He managed it after gruelling physiotherapy and says: “I went to Afghanistan as one person and I came back as another. It didn’t change the love we had for one another.”
Their life together has been filled with amazing highs and terrible lows.
Tragedy struck again when they lost newborn twins Harry and Freya on their first wedding anniversary.
But they happily went on to have Archie, 12, and Coral, 10 – who, Martyn says, help him to cope with life by not seeing him any differently, like Michelle.
As he recovered, Martyn, who has left the Army, became firm pals with Prince Harry, who he served with in the Household Cavalry, and his brother Prince William.
Martyn and Michelle were even invited to William and Kate’s wedding in 2011.
Martyn reveals: “Michelle and I were sandwiched between David and Victoria Beckham and Elton John – it was surreal.
“Prince Harry smiled and waved, and whispered ‘Hello, Compo!’ Then Elton struck up a conversation before the ceremony. I remember saying, ‘I love your socks’ – he had a flamboyant, brightly coloured pair on. So he pulled up his trousers to show me better.”
Martyn still suffers PTSD from the Helmand attack and his injuries are so bad that he will need surgery for the rest of his life. His most recent op – on his lower eyelid – was just weeks ago.
He admits: “I still hate the operations, they don’t get any easier.”
Martyn says he sometimes he finds it difficult when people stare but he knows he has done some amazing things since his life-changing injury.
He adds: “I have served my country and while that is a part of my former life it has made me stronger, very grateful for what I have got.”
And having already beaten incredible odds, he is busying himself with Everest training ready to tackle his latest challenge.
Martyn, from Kent, is joining other veterans on the Pilgrim Bandits charity venture – including ex-Gurkha Hari Budha Magar, who aims to be the first above-the-knee double amputee to reach the summit.
Despite Martyn’s fragile skin not being able to maintain body heat in freezing temperatures, he will brave the treacherous Khumbu Icefall so he can call Michelle at 18,000ft to ask if she will renew her vows with him.
He says: “You never fully leave behind what has happened. But you can live a new life – albeit one different from the one you thought you were going to have. And in some ways it’s even better than before, as you know what you so nearly didn’t have.”
The brave dad credits facing his challenges with helping his mental health and he wants to show others they can achieve almost anything.
And it is clear that, for Martyn, his love for Michelle is what motivates him.
He adds: “I was determined to walk at my wedding. To now be climbing Everest is incredible.
“Our relationship is against the odds, our beautiful children are against the odds – and me being here at all is against the odds. So while this is a huge challenge for me, it is also a challenge I know I can face and conquer.
“I’m climbing in memory of veterans who are no longer with us, for families who have lost their babies.
“And also I’m climbing in celebration of enduring love.”
■ You can donate to Martyn’s campaign to climb Mount Everest at justgiving.com
