A BOY feared paralysed for life after a freak accident has baffled the medical world with his outstanding progress.

Parents of nine-year-old Daniel Largan said it was a miracle their son survived after a metal rod pierced his brain when he was 18 months old.

The metal divider from a hi-fi cabinet plunged three inches into his brain, piercing his eye socket and narrowly missing his eyeball.

Doctors operated on Daniel, who lives in Grangetown, near Middlesbrough, but feared he would be paralysed for life.

He was left with partial movement along his right side, but has since learnt to walk again.

The accident has left Daniel with learning difficulties, problems with his right arm and mobility problems, requiring him to wear a splint on his leg to help his stability.

He is also partially-sighted.

His mother, Dianne, said: "Looking back, it's a miracle he is here today. When it first happened, I honestly thought we would lose him. Even when he was starting to recover, I feared he would be paralysed.

"It's his left eye that has been affected. Doctors say the nerve behind the eye was damaged.

"He gets frustrated when his brothers and sister are out playing on their rollerskates or doing something he can't get involved in.

"It can be heartbreaking, but he just goes off and plays on his computer or Playstation, which he loves.

"He does get a bit upset, too, at being partially-sighted, as it will mean he will never drive. He'd set his heart on a motorbike when he gets older.

"Daniel has seen pictures of the x-ray, which showed the metal rod in his brain, and he couldn't believe it. I'm really proud of him."

Daniel, a pupil at Kirkleatham Hall School, is an avid football fan.

His mother added: "His uncle took him to his first game at the Riverside when Middlesbrough played Sunderland this season. He really enjoyed it."

Daniel said: "I play football a lot at school. I was really shocked when I saw the picture of my x-ray - I didn't think it was me."