His distraught parents were told their son could die after he had a heart attack when he was four weeks old.
Four years ago, he had a heart transplant and was up and walking within two days.
He is now competing across the globe in athletic competitions.
MARK THOMPSON met him.
LIFE has been a battle from the very start for Craig O'Neill.
He had undergone three operations on his heart before his first birthday.
Now he's on his way to a world championship to represent Britain in both track and field events in transplant games.
No one is more proud than Craig's dad, Martin.
"To see him running is the best thing in the world and it makes me incredibly proud, he is a miracle man," said Martin, who travels all over to see his gold-medal winning son sprint.
"He had a heart attack at four-weeks-old and we thought he was going to die so to see him fit and well is hard to put into words."
Craig, 26, lives with his parents in Appleby Road, Billingham.
He was born with a congenital abnormality of the heart.
But after being given a new heart four years ago he has collected a bag full of medals and has been picked to represent Britain in a world championship - despite being forced to shy away from sport for most of his life.
He said: "I have had some pretty dark days but now I have a new lease of life.
"My family are very close and that has helped a lot. We have stuck together so now it's nice to see them on the sidelines cheering me on."
At four-weeks-old Craig underwent his first heart operation. Nine weeks later he had his second and before he was one he was under the knife again.
Craig with one of his medals
Aged 10, his heart leaked and he was rushed into hospital for further surgery.
He then struggled through school at Billingham Campus where, despite loving sport, he had to make sure he didn't exert himself.
But after finishing English, maths and computer A-levels at Bedes Sixth Form, in Billingham, doctors told him he needed a transplant as his heart was beyond repair.
Martin, 50, who works for WA Browns builders, said: "It's a parent's worst nightmare to see their child ill and we had that for years and years.
"When he was 18 he got weaker and weaker and ended up in a wheelchair.
It was hard to see him like that, he was getting worse and worse."
In January 2005 he was rushed into the Freeman Hospital, in Newcastle, and was given a heart transplant when he was 22.
Within two days he was up and walking and a year later he had signed up to compete on the track.
Craig, who works at Boots and trains twice a week with Marsh House Harriers, said: "I was sat one day waiting for a follow-up appointment and I saw the poster for the British games and thought it was something positive to do.
"To be honest I am just happy to be running and have my health so to win things is a bonus.
"I train hard and really appreciate what I have because a lot of people don't get a second chance in life, luckily I have. I think it has really spurred me on to try harder in everything I do."
Craig's dad and mum, Julie, 50, who works at Leonards Electrical, have been to Italy and France to see their son compete.
His brother, Tony, 28, who also works at Boots, is said to be delighted at his younger sibling's efforts.
Now Craig is training hard to be ready to fly to Australia in August after being included in Britain's squad for the World Transplant Games.
His family are already getting set to pack their bags and cheer their "miracle man" in the southern hemisphere.
CRAIG'S ROLL OF HONOURSThe 2006 European Heart and Lung Transplant Games, Naples, Italy
100m gold4x100m relay gold
cricket ball throw bronze
The 2007 British Transplant Games, Edinburgh, Scotland100m gold
200m gold
The 2007 European Heart and Lung Transplant Games, Vichy, France100m gold
4x100 relay gold
cricket ball throw bronze
The 2008 British Transplant Games, Sheffield, England200m silver
100m bronze
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