AMPUTEE Andrew Lewis says watching the Paralympics has inspired him to try and get to the very top in sport.

Andrew, from Lydney (pictured), lost his leg below the knee in a motorcycle accident in 2003.

Prior to that he was a talented cross-country runner, good enough to represent Gloucestershire.

His dream was to join the Parachute Regiment and serve in the Army and he was about to begin his training when his accident with a 38-ton lorry turned his world upside down.

He said: "I was in hospital for more than four months.

"After waking up in a hospital bed at just 16 the reality of exactly what had just happened set in. I thought both my life and career was over.

"The next couple of months were not easy and I didn't lose my leg straight away. Bristol Royal Infirmary did everything they could to save it and for a short term managed to do so. However, in December 2003 I made the difficult decision to have my leg amputated due to the amount of problems it was causing me.

"Once I had my leg amputated I went downhill and didn't know which way to turn, not knowing if I'd made the right decision.

"I used to sit in my room at night and cry, watching the troops on TV because I wanted to join them, particularly my brother.

"My mother would come into the room and try to stop me crying and explain that things in life happen for a reason. I couldn't accept that."

Once he had been fitted with a prosthetic leg, Andrew slowly began rebuilding his life.

In 2007 he applied for a Disabled Flying Scholarship and was selected from thousands of applicants for 35 hours of flight training at RAF Cranwell. He walked away with his pilot's licence.

In 2009 he returned to his great sporting love of running. He also rejoined Lydney Boxing Club in order to get fit again and ended up becoming a qualified coach.

He said: "After watching the inspirational Paralympics the flame in my heart, which for years has just been a small ember, is burning strong again.

"I have been speaking to a Paralympic athlete who ran in the Beijing games. This person is giving me support and advice."

Andrew's employers, Airbus UK, have offered to contribute towards buying him a blade, a prosthetic running leg.

He's already been invited to take part in an event at Stoke Mandeville Stadium next year – with a view to earning selection for the next Paralympics.

It's a long road, but he's ready to take it one step at a time.

Andrew said: "The support from my family has been fantastic but with a new high-tech prosthetic leg I will finally feel like I am equal again."