A PARALYMPIAN from the New Forest has been ranked in the top 100 of the most influential people with a disability.

The top 100 list as recognised by Shaw Trusts Disability Power 100 puts Aaron Phipps, a wheelchair rugby paralympian alongside the likes of comedian Alex Brooker and actor Warwick Davis who were also recognised for their 'positive and life changing work.'

Aaron Phipps, contracted meningitis when he was 15 and subsequently he lost both legs and the tips of his fingers.

Since then Aaron has not been 'deterred' and has been 'doing as much' as he can to raise awareness of the disease.

Not only did he represent England in the 2012 Para-Olympic games.

In 2016 he climbed 19,341ft up Kilimanjaro where he spent four days crawling to the peak after having to abandon his terrain wheelchair.

Over the years he has also raised more than £250,000 for the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Aaron 'expressed' his 'shock' and 'surprise' to the Daily Echo after being ranked in the Top 100 list.

He said: "I'm honestly totally and completely gob-smacked.

"It's crazy and I can't quite believe that I'm in the top 100.

"I feel very privileged to have made it."

Aaron told the Echo that he couldn't have done everything that he has over the past few years without the support of his wife and two children.

The 35 year old said: "Since having meningitis when was I was 15 I wanted to give back to others and do as much as I can to raise awareness of meningitis."

Aaron told the Echo that he also runs many workshops around the country for young people.

He said: "Life can throw curve balls at us, but it is all about choices and the way we deal with these curve balls and that's the message that I want to get across in these workshops."

Aaron is also currently in training for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.