Townsend is a UK Sport Lottery Funded paratriathlete and was based at the Loughborough Triathlon Performance Centre before he moved back to his hometown of Eastbourne after the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio.

[1] Townsend served in the 40 Commando whilst in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan during Operation Herrick VII.

On 8 February 2008, he stepped on a Taliban improvised explosive device in a field in the Upper Gereshk Valley whilst leading his patrol (from Delta Company) back to FOB Gibraltar.

[7] Townsend spent a total of five and half months including 6 weeks in intensive care at the hospital.

In July 2008, Townsend left the hospital to go to the Headley Court a Defense Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Surrey.

He spent a total of 3 years at the centre, learning how to use his new prosthetic legs, whilst also undertaking further surgery at the hospital, receiving over 50 operations to date.

[14] Townsend competed in the Invictus Games in 2014 and took home four gold medals from the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1500m disciplines on the athletics track.