A TEENAGER was left paralysed after a freak diving accident on his summer holidays.

Cory Peyton, aged 15, damaged his spinal cord after diving into a swimming pool and hitting his head on the floor while on holiday with his family in Portugal in July.

Doctors initially told the teenager, who lives in Atherton, that by damaging his C5 and C6 vertebrae, he would be paralysed from the neck down and would never walk again.

But his family have been buoyed by the remarkable progress he has made — which includes movement in his arm, hip and toes and are attempting to raise more than £20,000 to send Cory to a specialist unit in Watford, with the hope that he will one day walk again.

Cory, who is a pupil at Westleigh High School, in Leigh, is yet to return to school.

His mother Michelle Peyton said: “When Cory had the accident it was devastating for all of us — you take your son on holiday happy and healthy and bring him back paralysed. It was awful and I couldn’t help but feel guilty.

“We were told that he would be paralysed from the neck down but he has made amazing progress and we believe he will walk again, he is a massive inspiration and he’s never given up, nothing seems to get him down.”

So far the fundraising campaign has seen a clairvoyant event held as well as a sponsored walk and a charity auction — and now golfers will be supporting Cory at a charity event at Dunscar Golf Club today.

The day has been organised by a family friend of the Peytons, Stuart Surples, who said: “I have known Cory since he was five and he is a really lovely lad with a lovely family.

“I am a member of a golf society and thought it would be a good idea to hold a golf event to help the family reach that total.”

So far about 30 golfers have signed up to take part, each paying £20 and Stuart is hopeful that others will get their clubs out and join in.

There will also be a putting competition and a raffle and golfers will be fined for landing their golf balls in sand or water.

Mrs Peyton said her family have been overwhelmed by the support they have received since Cory’s accident, adding: “We have already raised £9,000 in five weeks and that is because everyone has been wonderful supporting us.”