The East Lothian family. Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest top news stories sent straight to your inbox with our daily newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice A Scots youngster who taught himself to walk again after a horror car crash has been gifted a holiday from Ant and Dec on hit show Saturday Night Takeaway. Denis Jack Ward from Tranent, East Lothian , was just four when he was knocked over by a car in front of his family in a traumatic incident. After being rushed to the hospital the now seven-year-old was told he would never use his legs again. But after spending six months in a wheelchair Denis defied all odds he regained the ability to walk. Last night viewers were delighted when Ant and Dec brought back the 'Happiest Minute of the Week' - a segment of Saturday Night Takeaway where someone is nominated for doing something 'inspirational'. Unbeknown to Denis, the Scots lad was a top candidate. Read More Related Articles Historic Scots building torched as cops probe 'wilful fire' of property being sold Read More Related Articles Teen fighting for life after gang brawl with 'knives and machetes' During the show, the Geordie duo switched to the schoolboy and his family's living room to break the exciting news he had won an all-inclusive seven-day holiday anywhere he liked. Dec explained to the audience Denis's incredible story and said: "After being in a car accident at age four, doctors said you'd never be able to use your legs again. But with superhuman determination - you have decided the odds and taught yourself to walk again. we think you are an absolute inspiration." Denis was told he would not use his legs again. Just before the camera cut back to the studio, Denis lifted his legs with his hands to show off his abilities, leaving viewers welling up. Speaking to the Record, Denis's mum Dionne Leadbettter said: "Dennis has come so far since his accident. He's never complained throughout the whole ordeal. "He's come so far from being stuck in a wheelchair for 6 months, to learning how to walk again and now he's back to playing
Football all the time and being outdoors which he's always loved. "He's so active and full of energy! After the accident mentally he had nightmares and wasn't as outgoing as he was for a while but he's managed to overcome all of it." The inspirational youngster taught himself to walk again. Join the Daily Record's
WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. The 32-year-old added: "Ross from ITV contacted me last week and mentioned he'd been reading up on Denis story and thought he'd be a great nomination for the show. "I agreed and the process started. It was so hard keeping the secret for a week from the boys. "He was so surprised when it happened but he loved seeing himself on the telly and is super excited about his holiday now." Denis with his mum, big brother and grandma who will be joining him on holiday. Denis hasn't picked a destination for the dream holiday but mum Dionne joked his ideas so far are all locations of footballers he likes. She added: "We're not sure where we are going yet, but Denis has a few places in mind he'd like to go and we're planning hopefully for next summer as it'll give us enough time to save up and get everything sorted. "His list is currently Switzerland,
Belgium,
France, Norway, Poland, and
Brazil but he's waiting to see the list for more ideas he says!" Denis now seven. Viewers at home were touched by the youngster's brave tale. One fan said: "It’s ironic that every time “happiest minute of the week” is on, I cry." Another commented: "I'll say it again - the Happiest Minute of the Week on #SaturdayNightTakeaway is such a joyous celebration of ordinary people's sacrifices, struggles and hard work for others And yes, once again I appear to have something in my eye." "He taught himself to walk again! wow, well done to him," a third wrote on X. Top news stories today Grieving parents demand justice for tot Dad's knife threat after school fight Mum threw weedkiller in cop's face Scots paedophile
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