A BRAVE Bolton youngster has beaten all the odds and got a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu, despite a brush with death when he was involved in an horrific car accident.

Robert Scott, aged 11, was critically injured when he was seven when he collided with a car. At one point he actually died and had to be resuscitated.

He suffered massive head injuries and was in a coma for two days before spending more than three months in hospital recovering. At that stage the promise of a glittering karate career looked to be under threat, but like a true champion, Robert, of Gregory Avenue, Breightmet, battled through and even received a special bravery award from Bolton's former world karate champion Joe Tierney.

After the accident, dad Bob feared karate could be dangerous because of Robert's injuries.

But he didn't want his son to give up on his dream of a career in martial arts. So Robert was persuaded to take up Jiu-Jitsu and last weekend his hard work paid off when he became one of the youngest ever to receive a coveted black belt.

Despite the fact that Robert is only 11, the Sharples School pupil is now a fully qualified Jiu-Jitsu instructor.

Dad Bob told the BEN: "I am so proud of Robert, I could burst. There was a time when he actually died, but thankfully he pulled through and he's such a determined lad he's now got his black belt and I couldn't be more chuffed."

Robert battled for more than four hours in a tough session in Runcorn to qualify for his black belt.

"It really took it out of him," added Bob. "But he loves the sport and it's his life. For him to battle back and achieve this is brilliant."

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