
King Edward VII’s Hospital – Helping with New Beginnings
Proud Military veteran and ambassador for King Edward VII’s Hospital’s Centre for Veterans’ Health, Caroline Beazley, Served in the Royal Military Police before her life changed forever. This is not just a story of a woman injured in combat. This is Caroline’s story; one of resilience, strength, and transformation.
A devastating attack
At just 22 years old, while on patrol and unarmed, Caroline was shot four times with an AK-47. The bullets shattered her lower back, right thumb, jaw, tongue, and upper palate, with another narrowly missing her head. “I remember looking at myself in the mirror in hospital; the first time I had seen myself since the shooting. Staring back at me was a swollen, scarred, broken face, unrecognisable as the person I once was.”
People often ask how Caroline survived four 7.62mm rounds. She doesn’t have a clear answer, but she believes someone was watching over her that day. Her life changed forever in that split second. The Military career she had envisioned vanished, and she was thrust into a world of pain, isolation, and struggle.

Recovery and struggle
After being discharged from both the hospital and the Army, Caroline faced a long road to recovery. While her physical wounds healed, the mental scars were harder to overcome. She battled PTSD, isolation, and a loss of purpose, hiding her struggles for years.
In late 2018, an email about a pain management programme at the Centre for Veterans’ Health changed her life. From the moment she arrived, she felt safe and understood. The programme transformed hopelessness into hope, fear into courage, and loss into rediscovery. It equipped her with the tools to rebuild her life, helping her manage pain and regain confidence.

A new beginning
Before the programme, Caroline was ashamed of her scars and lacked self-belief. Now, she stands as a testament to strength, speaking publicly with confidence. No longer ruled by pain and fear, she used the tools she learned to rewrite her story. The programme not only changed her life but also positively impacted her family, friends, and fellow Veterans.
Mentally and physically stronger
Since completing the programme, Caroline has achieved amazing things: Becoming an ambassador for the Centre for Veterans’ Health, winning silver in the 50m breaststroke in the Veteran Games, volunteering in a South African orphanage and recording a charity single with Jon Bon Jovi.
A Life-changing programme
Caroline credits her achievements to the programme’s support. Grateful for the generous donors who make it possible, she encourages fellow Veterans to trust in its transformative power, saying: “This programme was life-changing, and I will be forever grateful for the support I have received. To my fellow Veterans, trust me, give it a go. It will change your life.”
For further information, tel: 020 3918 6478
enquiries@kingedwardvii.co.uk
King Edward VII’s Hospital, 5-10 Beaumont Street, Marylebone, London, W1G 6AA.
