A young man's Paralympic dream is over after being laid up in hospital for seven weeks from blood poisoning.

The odds have been against John Smith’s Rio mission from the start.

Despite securing a place for the T54 marathon in the Games over five qualifying stages, back in June his custom-built wheelchair was stolen from his home in Beechwood Gardens, Meopham. It was anonymously returned after a police appeal.

But in the latest twist the 26-year-old fell ill with septicaemia after a race in South Korea, which has dashed his hopes.

He said: “I came down with a fever while I was out there but didn’t tell anyone as I wanted to still race and I did manage to qualify and do well there.

“When I came back I carried on with my training and completed another marathon but then it got to a point in July, I was in the Cyclopark with my dad and I just had to stop. I said to him ‘something doesn’t feel right’ and I just could not move another foot in front of me.”

He went to Darent Valley Hospital where tests showed he had severe septicaemia throughout his entire body.

The former amateur boxer, who turned his life around after being shot in the spine aged 16 while lamping for rabbits, is ranked number two in Team GB. Only his training partner and six-times gold medallist David Weir is above him.

“The lady who gave me my results couldn’t believe I’d still been training, she was amazed I could get out of bed. I thought I just had the flu but I ended up staying in hospital for seven weeks.”

The athlete was only given the all clear and sent home a week ago. His fitness in the meantime has plummeted and he’s now in no condition for the Paralympics, which started on Wednesday and runs until September 18.

“To say I’m gutted doesn’t cover it. I’ve dedicated my life to this. I’ve spent every day for years training. It’s unbelievable and it’s left a sour taste in my mouth. Three of my team are out there competing and I’ll still be watching and cheering them on. I just wish I was with them.”

Mr Smith is now starting his four-year Olympic preparation cycle again, looking to Tokyo in 2020.

“We’ve got the World Championships, the Euros, the Commonwealth. They are what I’m looking to now.”