"WE were told he wouldn't last the night."

That was the shocking diagnosis parents Fiona and Stephen Peacock were given when their son, assistant golf professional Oliver Peacock, suffered a stroke and brain damage at the age of 23.

Fiona and Stephen found Oliver slumped over the bath at the family home.

He spent the next two weeks in intensive care with doctors then going on to say that even if he survived, he would suffer permanent severe brain damage.

But the same competitive spirit and fun-loving nature that made Oliver "the life and soul of the party" has seen him get back on his feet.

"The first two weeks were an absolute nightmare," said Fiona, from Woodland Avenue, Boscombe, who quit her job as an estate agent after what happened to her young son.

"He has done fantastic so far.

"I can only hope he is going to progress as quickly as he has over the last five weeks." Oliver, known as Oli, collapsed on August 15 after an evening out playing snooker with friends.

He can now walk and talk to a limited extent.

He is the assistant professional at Ashley Wood, near Blandford, with a zero handicap, and was due to take his first professional golf examinations at the end of August.

John Shimmons, the club professional, said: "He was very easy going, well-liked by all the members and the other professionals."

Dad Stephen, a self-employed ceramic tiler, said; "Everyone would watch him because he was entertaining - if there was an impossible shot, he would take it on."

Oli was approached by a scout from Portsmouth Football Club aged 11, but his heart lay in golf.

Fiona said: "Golf was his life. As a young lad he used to sit in front of the TV practising his grip."

Oli, who injured his stomach when he collapsed, is in a stroke rehabilitation unit in Christchurch Hospital after initially being treated at Bournemouth Hospital, and the family are full of praise for the medical staff.

Fiona said: "Everybody has been fabulous."

Dad Stephen added: "I can't praise the nursing staff enough."

Ashley Wood has organised a £100 four-ball fundraiser for one pro and three amateurs per team, on October 7, including a coffee morning and a ploughman's lunch. Call 01258 480379 to book.

Participants include Oli's grandparents Les, 84, and Leah, 82, from Ferndown, who introduced Oli and brothers Tom, 26, and Charlie, 18, to the sport in the first place. Tom is arranging an auction as part of the day.

The money will go towards whatever care Oli needs when he returns home.