A ground-breaking 'medical cooling device' has prevented a Macclesfield athlete's body from reaching dangerously high temperatures.

Macclesfield Paralympian Antony Cotterill – who is unable to regulate his own body temperature – will be using a pioneering medical cooling device incorporating a bespoke cooling vest.

It will help his body in Tokyo to stop him reaching dangerously high temperatures.

Antony broke his neck after falling into a shallow swimming pool in September 2003.

During rehabilitation, he discovered his passion and skill for wheelchair tennis and embarked on a successful career path.

Following his Paralympic debut in 2016, the Macclesfield sportsperson has once again been chosen to represent Team GB, this time at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.

Since the accident, Antony has been unable to sweat, which means participating in tennis matches could be potentially life threatening, especially with temperatures in Japan expected to average around 31°C in August.

Providing a novel solution for the Macc tennis player is Huddersfield-based company Paxman.

The family business uses pioneering cooling technology to help cancer patients keep their hair during chemotherapy.

The company became involved when Glenn Paxman, founder and Chairman of Paxman was approached by the manager of Antony's local tennis club two years ago to see if he could help with an innovative cooling solution.

Since then his brother Neil Paxman, renowned as one of the nation's cooling technology experts, has developed the revolutionary breakthrough by designing a lightweight miniature cooling device, which attaches to Antony's wheelchair.

The pioneering technology circulates a coolant through a specially designed cooling vest, which he will wear whilst playing tennis.

Antony said: "The technology is incredible, and I cannot believe it has been designed especially to help keep me cool while I play. Without it my core body temperature would reach dangerously high levels during a match, which sadly could stop me from competing.

"I am now looking forward to representing Team GB this summer and cannot wait to get on the court."

Glenn Paxman added: "Cooling innovation is firmly embedded in the Paxman family – both scalp and beer cooling - so Neil took these years of experience and research to make something bespoke that would help Antony compete safely in the Tokyo heat.

The device has been tested extensively, including successful heat chamber testing at Loughborough University – whereby a telemetry pill recorded a reduction Antony's core temperature whilst the cooling device was in use.

During the first day Antony went without any cooling assistance; on the second day, he used ice drinks and cool towels; and during the third day, he wore the Paxman cooling device, with the heat chamber test showing a reduction of 1° in Antony's core temperature.

Antony also wore the pioneering device at a recent match in Nottingham, which showed everything was working well.

The unusually high temperatures experienced in the UK in the last couple of weeks have also rivalled those in Tokyo, making for more authentic testing and training conditions.

Throughout the development, the project has been supported The Lawn Tennis Association and the British Olympic committee.

Antony first played wheelchair tennis in 2004, whilst still in rehabilitation.

After playing in the National Championships, he made his quad singles debut on the international Wheelchair Tennis Tour at the 2005 Belgian Open.

Antony has since won more than 40 singles and doubles titles, including three Super Series doubles titles.

Antony achieved his career high quad singles world ranking of No. 5 in September 2015 before making his Paralympic debut at Rio 2016.

He'll head to Tokyo, and you can follow his progress with Macclesfield Nub News, and on his social media.

The Paralympics take place from Tuesday August 24 to Sunday September 5, which will be held in Tokyo, Japan.

He is not the only Paralympian from the Macclesfield area aiming for a medal. Paralympic sprinter Libby Clegg is from Bollington. She's won four medals at three Paralympics.

Macclesfield Nub News wishes all local Paralympian's well ahead of the games.

Please sign up for our Friday weekly newsletter containing each week's top 10 Macclesfield news stories, and one FREE exclusive article. 380 of you have signed up already.

Simply enter your email address into the shaded box below.

Free from pop-up ads, or unwanted surveys, Macclesfield Nub News is a quality online newspaper which produces 25-30 stories a week for our town.

You can also find us on Facebook or Twitter.