A man who overcame life-threatening injury to win silver at the first  Paralympic Games has died, aged 81.

Thomas ‘Paddy’ Moran was left paralysed by an exploding landmine while serving in Korea in 1951.

With the help of Dr Ludwig Guttmann and Stoke Mandeville Hospital he was inspired to achieve sporting greatness.

Paddy, from Sutton, died on February 10 after a short illness.

Paying tribute, his wife Mary said: “He was my other half. I am devastated and will miss him terribly. Paddy overcame incredible adversity to have a wonderful, fulfilling life.”

The life-changing moment for Irish-born Paddy came in 1951. He was with a patrol  negotiating a path through land mines when a soldier stepped on one.

A piece of shrapnel severed his spine leaving him paralysed from the chest down. He was not expected to survive, but Paddy’s formidable spirit saw him transferred to Stoke Mandeville Hospital

Speaking to the Express about his experience last autumn, Paddy said: “Men were literally arriving in coffins having been expected to die, but Ludwig wouldn’t have any of it. He had a technique of care and rehabilitation that saved a lot of lives, including mine.”

Paddy was given a wheelchair and ordered to take part in sports such as archery and table tennis helped me regain strength and my posture. Within months he was playing competitive basketball and was selected to play a Dutch team of paraplegics in the first international competition of its kind. In 1953 Paddy was offered a place at the Lyme Green settlement, a home for injured veterans, and threw himself into his new life.

He said: “There were a group of us, young men, who had been madly injured and were trying to get our lives together.

“The camaraderie of the group got there got us through some dark times. We spurred each other on. We worked hard and played hard.”

An average day would be spent at the settlement’s workshops, earning their keep, and the rest practising sport. It was also where he met his wife Mary, who he married in 1958.

Paddy joined a formidable basketball team at Lyme Green which represented Great Britain in international competitions until 1955 when other players from similar settlements were selected. These annual competitions are considered the forerunner to the first Paralympics Games, in 1960 where Paddy led the opening parade, a moment Paddy described as the proudest of his life.

For a decade he travelled the world competing in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games and Paralympics in Australia, Japan, Israel, in disciplines such as table tennis, club throw, javelin and basketball.

His collection of medals boasts three golds, two silver and three bronze.

Paddy leaves behind his wife Mary, sisters Kate and Mary, and brother Billy.

His funeral will take place on Friday with service and committal at Macclesfield Crematorium at 12pm.