A FORMER Royal Marine from Horrabridge, who lost his leg in an accident and went on to complete the fastest unsupported solo row across the Atlantic, has been crowned the ‘Against All Odds’ champion for Brave Britons 2019.

Lee Spencer was announced ‘Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons 2019 Against All Odds’ winner at a ceremony at the Army and Navy Club in London, which was compered by Falklands War hero Simon Weston and where His Royal Highness, the Duke of Kent, was guest of honour.

Lee, 50, hit the headlines in March this year when he finished the 3,500-mile crossing from mainland Europe to South America in 60 days 16 hours and six minutes, breaking the able-bodied record for the route by 36 days.

Lee was unable to attend the London ceremony on Tuesday as he was already pre-booked to give a motivational speech on a cruise ship, but in a recorded acceptance speech the dad-of-two said: ‘I’m absolutely delighted to win this award.

‘Rowing across the Atlantic in a record solo time was beyond my wildest dreams. It proved that no one should be defined by disability. It’s something I feel really passionate about.

‘I would like to say thank you to everyone who nominated me. I feel humbled that you took the time to do it.’

Lee lost his right leg beneath the knee in 2014 when he was struck by debris from a car engine after he stopped to help an injured motorist. The following year he was part of a four-person team that became the first all-amputee crew to row across the Atlantic, completing the challenge in 46 days. 

He followed that with his solo journey, which raised money for the Royal Marines Charity and the Endeavour Fund. He began in Portugal and ended in Cayenne, French Guyana.

Lee broke the world records for the longest ocean row by a physically disabled person, the fastest time rowed at that distance by a physically disabled person and the fastest unsupported solo row across the Atlantic by any person.

He battled tough conditions that included 50ft waves, little sleep and, of course, the solitude of being alone in the middle of the ocean for 60 days.

Lee is now in training to kayak 3,700km down the Amazon in a team of four in 2020, while he is also going to take on his own triathlon in 2021 that will consist of swimming the Channel, cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and doing a marathon over Ben Nevis in ten days.

The Amplifon awards celebrate remarkable people and pets. They were set up in honour of Amplifon’s founder, World War Two hero Major Charles Holland. 

Amplifon’s judges said: ‘It was typical of Lee that he was helping others in a road crash when he suffered horrendous injuries himself. But he has used his life-changing disability to shine a beacon on others, which he believes, are even more unfortunate than himself and has endeavoured to make their lives more comfortable.’