Ex-Marine 'fighting to pay for his girl's care'

A former Royal Marine commando said he is risking his life working as a private security guard in Iraq in order to pay for prosthetic legs for his daughter.

Tony Cross said he needed the money to pay healthcare bills of more than £12,000 a year for his five-year-old daughter, Lydia.

Mr Cross, 37, from Braunton in north Devon, also needs money to fight a legal battle against the doctors he claims misdiagnosed Lydia, who had both legs amputated below the knee in December 2003 after contracting meningitis.

He left the Army last month and has been in Iraq since 22 September. His wife, Jodie, said he has been involved in life-threatening situations.

Mr Cross, who was stationed at Chivenor while in the Marines, said: "I would never have put myself into something like this if it did not pay the money Lydia requires." Mrs Cross, 36, said Lydia needs new prosthetic limbs every 10 months.

Lydia contracted meningitis in October 2003 and was first taken to Chippenham Community Hospital. After the surgery the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust was told a potential compensation claim is being investigated.

No one from the trust was immediately available for comment yesterday.