Epsom's Toby Pawson stands on the brink of a Paralympic dream 18 years after cheating death.

He was just 18 months old when he was found floating face down in his parent's swimming pool, and suffered brain damage as a result.

But the 20-year-old has battled back to stand one step away from qualifying for the World Paralympic Equestrian Championships in Gloucester.

It is a remarkable turnaround for the youngster who, until December, was struggling on the bottom rung of the dressage discipline until he teamed up with the horse he claims has changed his life.

Pawson, who is studying sports event management at Buckingham & Chiltern University College, triumphed at last month's qualifier at Patchetts EC in Hertfordshire with a score of 72.4 per cent.

He now needs a strong perfor-mance at the next one in South Buckinghamshire tomorrow (Thursday) to be in contention for the British squad.

The improvement has come after dad Steve bought 11-year-old horse Oyster II, giving Pawson a new lease of life with the help of coaches Clive Milkins and Jane Goldsmith, the British Paralympic dressage squad trainer.

"Oyster has changed my life completely. What he has done has given me the self-belief to do it," he told the Comet.

"Last year, I was borrowing horses and had a few bad experiences in competitions.

"The horses would go tight and I would be battling it the whole time.

"It makes you feel like you have the wow factor. I just feel a lot better about myself.

"I can't thank my dad enough for buying Oyster for me."

Pawson, who has been riding since he was six, competes in dressage as a grade three categorised Paralympic rider, based on the problems he has controlling his movements following his accident.

And, with his current rate of progress, the Beijing Paralympics in 2008 have not yet been ruled out.

"If I make the world championships, I am in contention for Beijing," said Pawson, who is sponsored by Williams Harlow Commercial.

"If not, I'll definitely be there for 2012. I would be so upset if I didn't make it."

His achievements, which prove he has never shirked a challenge since leaving Guildford College with enough BTEC points to go to university, are all the more amazing after the near-death experience at his home in 1988.

His mum Annette recalled: "When we moved in, we immediately put a fence around the pool.

"We had nephew staying who left two chairs either side of the fence after he had gone swimming.

"Somehow, Toby managed to crawl over and we found him floating in the swimming pool.

"He was pronounced dead on arrival at Epsom General Hospital, and we were very, very lucky they managed to revive him.

"He was very disabled and it is amazing to think what he can do now."

Even if he doesn't make the 15-rider British squad, Pawson is already hunting the next challenge - and few would back against him making the grade.

"Why dressage? I ask myself that a lot but, unfortunately, there aren't any other Paralympic categories because of insurance issues," he said "With any luck, we will be allowed to three-day eventing soon and do show jumping, which is a lot more fun."