Plea to bring Southampton MBE army hero paralysed in Dubai

Mark Houghton MBE from West End, Southampton began his military career in the Royal Tank Regiment before later moving to the Small Arms School Corps.

After tours in Afghanistan, Kenya and the Baltic states, the 58-year-old was awarded several service medals and retired with an “exemplary record” in 2006 – being awarded his title in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2005.

But on February 22, Mark was involved in a serious e-scooter accident in Dubai, sustaining a spinal injury which has paralysed him from the neck down.

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“He was scooting along a foot path and there was an obstruction in the middle of it, he didn’t see it and went straight head in onto it,” his son Lawrence Houghton said.

“Because of the force hitting it, he broke his neck, and then he went flying. When he broke his neck mid-air, he’s not put his hands out, and landed straight on his face.”

Mark with his son Lawrence Houghton. (Image: Lawrence Houghton) Lawrence said that he immediately jumped on a plane the day that it had happened and spent a month with his father in the UAE.

He said the first few days were “touch and go” and that his father “probably shouldn’t even be here”.

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“Then they found out he hasn’t got a complete spinal injury, which means he’s damaged it but he hasn’t severed his spine,” his son said.

With suitable spinal rehabilitation, Mark does have a chance of a recovery in good time, though he needs to get back to the UK for specialist treatment.

Mark pictured in uniform. (Image: Lawrence Houghton) A team will have to fly out to Dubai to bring the 58-year-old back via stretcher – a process that will cost the family £25,000.

While his rehab will be covered by the NHS and Lawrence had nothing but praise for his treatment in the UAE, he said the need to begin Mark’s specialist treatment in the UK is “pressing”.

“The care he’s had out in the UAE has been fantastic, it’s state of the art,” Lawrence said.

“The ICU he was in what was phenomenal, probably part of why he’s still there."

Support from the military community has been 'fantastic'

Mark also co-founded a charity in West End. (Image: Lawrence Houghton) After retiring from the military, Mark transitioned to roles in training and development in the UAE, where his family said he made “significant contributions to security”.

He also co-founded the charity "Caring Kits For Kids" based in West End, which puts together backpacks for young people entering emergency foster care and for mothers fleeing situations of domestic abuse and human trafficking.

The 58-year-old is very much still part of the veterans community, and Lawrence said the support they have shown has been “fantastic”.

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He said: “The military community is quite strong so they have a sense of helping their brother out, even after leaving the military, the veterans community is quite passionate.

“Unfortunately, his health insurance doesn’t cover repatriation to his home country, and the UK is the best place for spinal injury rehabilitation in the world, that’s widely recognised.”

At the time of print, the GoFundMe for Mark has raised £7,535 out of the £25,000 target.