A fitness instructor who was told he would never exercise again after suffering partial paralysis from a motorbike smash has made a full recovery.

Luke Bulbeck broke his back, arm, eight ribs, and suffered a collapsed lung and paralysis of his right arm after a car crashed into his motorbike in Stonecot Hill, in November 2008.

The New Malden motorcyclist was told his injuries were so severe that he would not be able to do any vigorous exercise again, ruining his livelihood and dream of joining the army.

He said: "It was very difficult, it broke me. It was such a shock, I am used to working and being fit, that was my life so for him to say that it was very difficult.

"I was depressed, I didn’t go out. I was doing two bob jobs to make ends meet as I couldn’t do my work as a fitness instructor."

But the determined 26-year-old battled against the odds to train himself to get fit and had now made a miraculous recovery.

Last month he came runner up in a professional competition for fitness models, where contestants are judged on poise, strength and body shape.

He said: "To be honest with you I couldn’t accept what the doctor was saying to me. I have pushed myself and got back into good physical shape.

"The comments I got back from the competition were unbelievable."

The success means Mr Bulbeck will travel to Canada to take part in the international championships which he described as "madness" considering the scars up his right arm that serve as a reminder of his experiences.

Mr Bulbeck said although he would have loved to join the army he is now content with his life and is hoping to inspire others in similar situations to his own.

He said: "I am pretty happy where I am now; I think my time for the forces has passed. Now I have accepted that and moved on.

"Now I try and inspire people, especially those with injuries."