WHEELCHAIR athlete Norman McIntyre will be cheered on by the grandson that helped save his life 10 years ago when he takes part in prestigious tennis tournament in Italy.

The 61-year-old ex-paratrooper - nicknamed Stormin' Norman - is taking part in the Italian Wheelchair Open, near Lake Garda, in September where he will be competing against players more than 40 years his junior.

He was left paralysed from the waist down after falling 70ft while climbing in a quarry at Brindle. Quick-thinking grandson John Cade was then aged eight. He ran for help and managed to raise the alarm.

The pair will now drive across the continent together on the anniversary of the accident.

Norman of Quebec Road, Blackburn, said: "After the accident everybody thought I was going to die.

"I was then given three years to live, so I'm not doing so bad.

"It's pointless letting the disability get on top of you so I've concentrated on my tennis and other sports, which I've always been interested in.

"If anything, if I knew I was going to end up in a wheelchair, I wish it had happened earlier. I would definitely have got to the top of the sport then.

"I'm close to John and we're both looking forward to the trip. We've been busy planning our route."

In 1994 he scooped the British doubles novice title with his partner Jimmy Heggie, just a year after taking up the sport.

Last month, Norman won the C Division singles at the Halifax Tennis Tournament.

"I'm coaching a 24-year-old lad at the moment from Nelson who has the same break, and therefore balance as me," added Norman, a former roofing contractor.

"It's great to see him coming on and his ambition is to beat me. It does wonders for my ego and morale that I can still beat the youngsters. It's really amusing when I hear 16 and 17 years-old complaining that they've been stuffed by an old fella like me."

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