A homeless man from Mansfield who lost one of his legs due to drug use could get a new prosthetic limb thanks to guidance from Prince William.
Delroy Carr, 58, served with the Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters 1st Battalion, after returning from his service, found himself homeless.
He became addicted to substances including heroin shortly after leaving the army and was forced to have a leg amputated in 2009 as a result of the addiction. He has spent many nights on Mansfield's streets with nothing but his crutches and the clothes on his back.
However, Mr Carr could be in luck - having explained his story to Prince William during a royal engagement to Mansfield on Wednesday, February 26.
The Duke of Cambridge was visiting The Beacon Project, a charitable organisation supporting rough sleepers in the town - and the Duke offered words of wisdom to Mr Carr about getting a new prosthetic leg.
He was advised about a treatment centre in the West Midlands which supports ex-servicemen who need prosthetic legs, and said he would help Mr Carr get in contact for a referral.
Mr Carr said: "I was talking with him about my leg and he let me know that there is a place just around the corner for ex servicemen to get prosthetic legs, and that he is going to help me get in touch with them.
"I lost my leg down to drug use and have been homeless for the last two years. At the minute I'm getting into sheltered accommodation and places like The Beacon Project are a godsend.
"They feed us, give us clothes and shower us and they give us advice. They put you in touch with government bodies and social organisations, and get us back on our feet."
The ex-serviceman had the chance to talk and laugh with the future king during the visit, where Prince William spoke to service users at the Beacon Project and asked about their lives.
Mr Carr added: "He asked how we are, what we do here, and about the infrastructure and services on offer for people like us in Mansfield.
"William is a great man, he's really down to earth and I like him. I was surprised about how much he knows about homelessness and prosthetics."
Homeless Daniel Walker, 43, also spoke to Prince William during the visit.
He said he has been friends with Mr Carr for years and, nine years ago, lost the ex-serviceman's prosthetic leg - something he told the Prince about and which brought laughter from the room.
He said: "I was supposed to be at an agency signing on for a job today, but it's not every day this happens. I'll tell them I've met Prince William but they won't believe me.
"About nine years ago I had Delroy's leg at my house, and I woke up one morning and asked my missus where the leg had gone. She said she 'chucked the horrible thing out' with the binmen.
"I told William this and he laughed. I have respect for William because this is tough, it can have an effect on his mental health doing all of this.
"I have been getting off methadone for a while and in and out of prison. Here they always give me toast, toothpaste and help with work. The support worker Louisa is amazing, she is my Mother Louisa."
Speaking at the visit, Prince William said he had sympathies for people who become addicted to drugs like heroin.
He added: "The guys were saying that coming off heroin is the hardest thing they have had to do. It is so debilitating."
