IT would have been a huge challenge for anyone – a 2.4-mile swim, then a 112-mile cycle ride and finally a 26.2-mile marathon run.

But when York athlete Tim Brown completed the UK IronMan race last weekend, he was defying doctors who advised him eight years ago never to run.

Tim, 24, of Sutton-on-the-Forest, had the cruciate ligament removed from his right knee after suffering severe leg injuries in a moped accident as a 17-year-old.

He said: “I was on crutches for about eight months after the accident, which happened when I hit a patch of mud on a back road while going home from Easingwold School.

“The doctors said eventually they needed to remove the ligament, which basically meant there was nothing left between the two bones. At first, the knee would tend to dislocate and pop out even when I did something like getting in the car.”

He said the doctors had advised he should not run or take part in extreme sports, but he responded by working for years on building up the muscle around the knee to take the strain, including undergoing lots of physiotherapy.

Tim, a member of the Knavesmire Harriers Athletics Club and Easingwold Running Club, completed the IronMan UK race in hilly terrain around Bolton, Greater Manchester, in 12 hours, 34 minutes and 25 seconds, finishing without any ill effects.

He thanked Cycle Scene, of Wigginton, which prepared his bike for the race and Dr Richard Lawrence, of Wales, an IronMan veteran who mentored him for last weekend’s event.

His mother, Margaret, said: “Considering he had a nasty knee accident when he was 17 and was told he would not ever be able to run or do extreme sport, this is an incredible achievement. As a family we are all very proud of Tim’s achievement. “We have witnessed his dedication to train in all weather conditions and his complete focus to achieve this goal.

“This year’s Ironman is reported as one of the toughest courses yet, both demanding physically and mentally.”

Tim said he now planned to take part in three Ironman challenges next year, in New Zealand, France and the UK.