A TEENAGER is defying all the odds after a tragic accident left him paralysed from the neck down.

Cory Peyton, aged 15, damaged his C5 and C6 vertebrae and was told he would never walk again after diving into a swimming pool and hitting his head on the bottom while on a family holiday in Portugal last July.

Cory has recovered movement in his arms, toes, hips and ankles and his family are now trying to raise £20,000 to send him on a rehabilitation programme in Watford that will hopefully help him walk again. His mum Michelle, of Keats Close, Atherton, said: “It was my worst nightmare.

I got on a plane to go on holiday with my perfect son and returned thinking he might not make it through the flight.

“He has been amazing though, he has never stopped smiling and I hope he continues to prove everybody wrong.

“All the doctors are amazed because they never expected him to get any movement back and it is unbelievable how well he has done.

“The rehab uses specialist equipment that has been brought over from California such as low-impact treadmills and bikes, which will hopefully allow Cory to walk again. It is a not-for-profit organisation so all the money goes back into helping people.

“The community has been amazing. Cory’s school held a big fundraising night that made £1,100 and a sponsored walk raised £1,200. Everyone is getting involved and I am so grateful to everyone that has.”

The latest fundraising event saw 16 golfers – including Cory’s dad Gary and 25-year-old brother Ashley – raise £500 at Dunscar Golf Club.

Michelle said: “This has been so hard on the family, especially on Cory’s brothers Ashley and Ben.

“We don’t know if the rehab will work but I won’t give up and neither will he. Nobody expected him to make it this far though and he has.”

To find out more, visit facebook.com/pages/Carry-On-Cory.