A TEENAGE swimmer whose career was almost ended by a shoulder injury is back on the medal trail.

Former national schools champion Chris Surtees, 17, from Hunwick, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, was one of the most promising young swimmers in the country 18 months ago, with a string of titles to his name.

But he was forced out of action for more than a year after dislocating his right shoulder in a North-Eastern Counties competition in March last year.

This week, Chris made his comeback in dramatic style, winning a silver medal in the National Swimming Championships held at Ponds Forge, Sheffield, where he swam a personal best time of 57.24 seconds in the 17-18 years 100 metres butterfly event.

Before the competition he had already announced his return by coming first reserve for the 100 metres final in the senior nationals and being chosen for trials for England's Commonwealth Games team.

Chris's father, Paul, said his recovery had been a result of months of physiotherapy and a great deal of grit and tenacity.

He trains for 16 hours a week with Middlesbrough Swimming Club, as well as studying for A-levels in sport, computing and biology at St John's RC School, Bishop Auckland.

He hopes to do well enough to be accepted for a sports science degree course at Loughborough University.

Mr Surtees said: "The injury was a huge blow, but he has shown a lot of determination and willpower to get back. It is all credit to him because a lot of people would have given up.

"His arm was so bad he even had to have someone writing for him in his GCSE exams, but he passed them all."

Chris has a 15-year-old sister, Emily, who also competed in the nationals at Sheffield and made three finals in the same competition last year