Skip to main contentSkip to footer

Marine hero's fake limb prank has David Beckham chuckling


On 24 March 2009
Share this:

David Beckham had to smile when he was caught out by a prank played by a wounded war hero.

The England player initially looked horrified when he shook the hand of Royal Marine Ben McBean – and it came off. Seconds later he realised he'd grasped the soldier's prosthetic limb and dissolved into laughter. "I was shocked. I didn't expect that," he admitted.

The joke came as Becks and his England teammates invited Ben and other brave Forces colleagues to watch them train at Arsenal's ground in London.

Ben, who was dubbed a hero by fellow soldier Prince Harry when they flew back on the same plane from Afghanistan, chuckled: "The fake arm trick – it gets them every time."

Since losing an arm and a leg on the frontline, the Marine has made so much progress he plans to take part in a project to climb Mount Everest in October.

Sign up to HELLO Daily! for the best royal, celebrity and lifestyle coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

Photo: PA
The star footballer, pictured greeting the soldiers who'd been invited to watch the team train, was stunned when a wounded Forces hero's arm came off in his hand. "I was shocked. I didn't expect that," admitted David, who soon saw the funny side and went on the sign the serviceman's prosthetic limb
Photo: Getty Images
"The fake arm trick – it get's them every time," grinned Ben, whose profile was raised when he travelled, badly injured, back from Afghanistan on the same plane as Prince Harry