But the 17-year-old took up wheelchair basketball and vowed to be good enough to compete in the 2012 London Paralympics.

And Terence – known as TJ – is well on his way after being picked to represent Great Britain at the International Games in Turkey this week.

Speaking before he flew out, TJ said: 'A referee at one of my matches put me forward for trials for the junior men's team but I never expected to get in because there are so many good players.

'I was well chuffed when they picked me, I was over the moon.

'I need to be in the men's team before I can be picked for the Paralympics so that is my aim now.'

TJ's leg was amputated half way up his thigh when he was seriously injured climbing off a moving rollercoaster at Funland, in Hayling Island in 1997.

He will spend 10 days at the games and is hoping to help Great Britain through to a win.

His family say they are amazed at his strength, courage and determination since the accident.

Mum Fiona Muir, 44, said having just one leg had spurred her son on to achieve as much as he can in his life.

She said: 'It's fantastic the way he has dealt with what happened. A lot of people would have just sat at home doing nothing.

'I really don't know what he would have done without the basketball, though. He lives and breathes it.'

But Mrs Muir, of Battens Way, Leigh Park, said she was still haunted by the day of the accident.

'I still can't come to terms with it,' she said.

'I still feel like it was my fault because I gave him the money to go to the fair.

She added: 'I still blame myself for it.'