A PARALYMPIC athlete drew on his own life story to inspire underachieving boys today (Monday).

Craig McCann visited St Hild's Church of England School in Hartlepool in his role as an "athlete mentor" in a sports scheme.

A keen university rower, he signed up for the RAF at the age of 20 but his career hopes were shattered when doctors discovered a brain tumour during a medical examination.

He underwent 18-hour surgery and rehabilitation as part of his recovery.

After attending a “Paralympics potential” session in 2010, he was spotted by the British Disabled Fencing Association and he began training as a full-time athlete.

Mr McCann represented Great Britain at both European and World Championships within his first year as an international athlete, and he competed in his first Paralympic Games just over two years after taking up the sport.

Following London 2012, he left the sport of wheelchair fencing to pursue a new challenge in Paracycling, winning a string of races in his first season.

He visited St Hild’s in his role as an Athlete Mentor for Sky Sports Living for Sport, a free secondary schools initiative that uses sport stars and sport skills to boost pupils’ confidence, change behaviour, increase attainment and improve life skills.

He worked with a group of Year 11 boys who are involved in the "Likely Lads" intervention programme run by St Hild’s which provides competition and rewards to improve the academic attainment of under-achieving pupils.

Chris Seymour, Assistant Headteacher at St Hild’s, said: “As a school, we are only too aware of the significant gap in attainment between boys and girls, both locally and nationally, but this shows how determined we are to tackle the issue and drive up boys’ performance.

“The boys taking part in the Likely Lads intervention programme also deserve a lot of credit for agreeing to come into school during their Easter holiday to work with Craig.”