TYLER Humphreys suffered a horrific head injury 12 months ago that left some questioning whether he would get on a diving board again.

But rather than shy away from the sport he loves, Tyler returned just a matter of weeks after misjudging a dive from the three-metre board at Southend Leisure and Tennis Centre that left the then 13-year-old concussed, in intensive care for four days and needing 17 staples in the back of his head.

Tyler, 14, admits he was a bit nervous about returning to the sport after the injury.

“I was a bit nervous before getting on the board for the first time after the injury,” said Tyler.

“But at the same time I wanted to get on the board as quickly as possible.

“I am really pleased with how I have been performing since the injury.

“I have just got back from France and I had some success towards the end of last year.

“In November, I got picked for the nationals and I won that.”

Tyler picked up where he left off when he returned to the pool, as he claimed two silver medals in Rome just 10 weeks after the accident.

And the Shoeburyness-based diver will be representing his country on an international scale once again after recently being confirmed among those competing in the Mediterranean Cup.

Tyler will travel to Bolzano, Italy, for the highly-regarded competition in August.

But Tyler, who has been supported throughout the past 12 months by King Edmund School, is hoping to compete for Team GB in one of the biggest sporting events in the coming years.

Tyler added: “I am hoping to go to an Olympic Games with Great Britain in the future.

“I am aiming for Tokyo in 2020 but that may come a bit too soon for me.

“If not, I will definitely be looking to make the 2024 Olympic Games.”

Jack Laugher and Chris Mears became Team GB’s first Olympic diving gold medallists in Rio last year, while Tom Daley made his Olympic debut in Beijing as a 14-year-old.

Daley has gone on to win bronze medals at London 2012 and Rio 2016, and has been training alongside Tyler during the last year.

“It has been good training alongside Tom Daley,” confirmed Tyler.

“Obviously has he enjoyed a lot of success representing Great Britain at the Olympics and other competitions so it has been great to work quite closely with him.

“He is definitely someone I look up to despite him performing on a different board to me.”

While Tyler has set himself major targets, his mum, Donna, is proud of the progress he has already made since the injury.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of what he has achieved, both before the injury and after it.

“I honestly did not think he would get back into diving after suffering the injury he did.”