Boy who defied odds gets 1,500 birthday cards

Zac's mum Mags had asked people to help them celebrate her son's 18th birthday

A boy who defied all odds by reaching his 18th birthday has received more than 1,500 cards from all over the world.

Zak Hall, from Cumbria, was left severely brain damaged after complications at birth left him without oxygen for several minutes and doctors said he would not live past the age of 12.

His mum Mags appealed to people to help them celebrate the milestone by sending cards for his birthday on 23 April to Sedbergh Tourist Information.

She said: "It's absolutely true what they say that it needs 1,000 positives to undo one negative. We've got 1,500 and plus positives and we can sit down with Zac and read them to him and tell him how amazing he is."

She added their family never thought they would be able to celebrate this day.

"It's absolutely amazing," she said.

Letters are still arriving to mark Zac's 18th birthday

Zac is not able to speak and his mother said he had no understanding of the world around him, but she wanted him to know that he was loved.

He has received cards from Canada, the US and Australia, as well as hundreds of cards from local people with more still arriving.