A YOUNG father is preparing for Christmas after being given the greatest gift of all - his life.

Adam Wood, 21, of Lime Road, Haslingden, has fought back from the brink since he slipped in a water fountain while on holiday in Ibiza in July. He had been on the island for just six hours when the accident happened.

The dad-of-one was left paralysed from the chest down after the fall, which severely damaged two of his vertebrae.

Doctors in Ibiza warned his family, who flew out to be with him, that he may never regain the use of his arms or breathe unaided, and there were fears for his life when he developed pneumonia and suffered a collapsed lung.

But since Adam was flown home by air ambulance in September, he has made remarkable progress through sheer determ-ination and the unfailing support of his devoted parents Jeanette and Kenneth, and older sisters Kim and Cheryl, and brother Karl.

The former bricklayer can now sit up, and breathe on his own for a few hours every day. He can also talk again whereas before he could only mouth words.

Mum Jeanette said: "Adam's so determined to do all he can to get better, he's coped so well.

"There have been some really dark days, but they've lifted and he's in really good spirits now because of how much he has come on. He's very positive, and also very accepting of the situation he's in.

"He's not too bothered now about not being able use his legs, he is of the view that anything is a bonus after he came so close to losing everything. I'm so proud of him."

Adam and the rest the family got an early Christmas present when hewas transferred to Southport General Infirmary. The hospital is one of the best in the country for helping people with paralysis to build their strength, and Adam will soon begin intensive physiotherapy at the special gym in the hospital's spinal injury unit.

Jeanette said: "The staff at Royal Blackburn Hospital, where Adam was on the high dependency unit for three months, were fantastic and helped him make all his progress, but we were all waiting for a bed to be free at Southport.

"We were told it could be another six months before one was available so when I got the call this month we were delighted; it means we can now work towards a specific goal," she said.

The move means that Adam will not be able to come home to Haslingden for Christmas, which he had been hoping to do, particularly to be with his 20-month-old son Brandon, who lives with his mum Carley Shortt in Haslingden.

Jeanette said: "When he was at Blackburn there was a possibility he could have come home for a short while, but even then it would have been difficult.

"I've told Adam that we'll take Christmas to him, we'll go to Southport with Brandon and take presents and a cake."

The former Haslingden High student's many friends were also instrumental in raising more than £15,000 for the Woods, to help pay for the £10,000 air ambulance journey home.