A man who was declared dead ten years ago is celebrating his fifth anniversary as an aquatics coach.

Paul Doyle, a former national swimmer, was given a second chance following a motorcycling accident on April 17, 2004.

Riding his bike in Islington, Mr Doyle turned out of a side road to be confronted a Mercedes overtaking a bus and parked cars on either side.

He said: "I picked the Mercedes, slammed on the brakes and headed straight for it, hit the front, shot up into the air, and landed in a pile on the road."

Mr Doyle's spine was fractured, his right wrist shattered, his ankle broken and his pelvis broken in four places.

In the ambulance on the way to hospital his heart stopped, but he was brought back to life with a defibrillator and spent two months in hospital, with six months of physical therapy to help him walk again.

Grateful for every day he has lived since, Mr Doyle decided to breathe new life into promising young swimmers as head of performance coaching at Haringey Aquatics, based at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre.

In just five years, Mr Doyle has coached four regional champions, more than 20 county medallists and the club's first ever national swimmers.

At Northumberland Park Community Pool, a neighbourhood at the heart of the 2011 riots, he's put together a team teaching nearly 200 children to swim.

As well as coaching a multi-medal winning Paralympian, Mr Doyle took his own daughter to the national championships, while his sons have also become coaches.

Mr Doyle said: "I love it. Seeing swimmers achieve success and grow as individuals is tremendously gratifying. Also it gives my competitive instincts an outlet, especially now that the body can't do it. Well, let's be honest you wouldn't do it for the money and fame."

Tottenham MP David Lammy, credits Mr Doyle for his inspiring influence on the Tottenham community and has given the club a donation from the proceeds of his book Out Of The Ashes. 

Mr Lammy said: "Winners are not those who fail, but those who never quit and nobody embodies this more than Paul Doyle, Tottenham is truly fortunate to have him coaching young athletes in our community."

To become a swimmer with Haringey Aquatics at Tottenham Green Leisure Centre contact teamharingey@gmail.com or call 07809612126.