TWO years after suffering horrific facial injuries in a tree fall, a 14-year-old boy has become a gold medal-winning athlete.

Nico Serventi fell 40 feet from a tree in woods as he played near his home.

He was knocked unconscious on the way down and his face took the brunt of the impact - smashing bones in his face, and pushing part of his jaw and teeth down his throat.

After spending weeks in hospital and months learning to speak again and recouperate, he overcame difficulties to take the gold medal in the javelin event at the Greater Manchester Youth Games.

Nico is the eldest son of Melanie and Carl Serventi. With his younger brothers Leo, aged 12, and Antoni, aged three, they live in Avonhead Close, Horwich.

"He had been playing in tree houses with friends in the woods nearby and lost his balance as he climbed a tree, said Mrs Serventi. "Nico was knocked out on the way down. He was very badly injured and it was a terrible time."

Nico was taken to the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital in Pendlebury and was in intensive care for four days.

He spent four weeks in hospital undergoing surgery and treatment, and around four months at home recovering.

But the damage to his face, especially his jaw, was extensive and Nico had to learn how to talk again.

As he recovered over the months, however, he took an interest in sport, particularly enjoying tennis, badminton and karate. Then a teacher at Rivington and Blackrod High School, where he is a pupil, suggested the javelin.

He began to excel in it and represented Horwich in the final Youth Games held last weekend.

"Nico has had a lot to overcome and he has done so well, said Mrs Serventi. "We were never sure how it would affect his development, but he has been very brave and we are very proud of him."