A PONTNEWYNYDD man is coming closer to his dream of competing in the 2012 Paralympics, four years after losing part of his leg in an horrific road accident.

Luke Jones, now 27, lost his right leg from the knee down in an accident three months into a year’s travelling in Australia in 2006.

He had been on Hamilton Island off the coast of Queensland when an electric buggy he was travelling in overturned.

A month later and doctors told him the devastating news that they were unable to save his leg.

But since the accident he has found his calling in sport and is now training for the 2012 Paralympics in London.

Mr Jones said: “It was just by chance that a sports performance coach for Wales saw my story and got in touch with me.

“His call took me by surprise, but I just wanted to get back into doing stuff.”

Mr Jones got straight into training for rowing events, but was sent back to square one in December after changes to his classification within rowing meant he could no longer compete.

Mr Jones desperately tried to find another sport in which to compete and he now plays sitting volleyball for the Celtic Dragons.

He said: “I had to swap to make sure I could still compete at Paralympic level but hopefully I am still on track for 2012.

“l continue training as a hand cyclist as well and if it comes off then I will hopefully go in that as well – I am giving myself plenty of options.”

Now, for the second year running Mr Jones was hand picked to receive a £1000 grant and expert tuition as part of the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes scheme.

Lloyds TSB Local Heroes is an initiative in partnership with SportsAid providing support and funding to over 270 of Britain’s most talented developing athletes on their journey to London 2012.

For more information visit www.lloydstsb.com/ localheroes