Europe’s oldest sufferer of a rare ageing disease has told how in just 20 years his body has become that of a 160-year-old.

Dean Andrews' body has aged eight times faster than normal due to a rare condition called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria.

He is one of just four progeria sufferers in the UK and out of only 74 cases worldwide, Dean is thought to be the second oldest survivor.

Now Dean has decided to tell the story of his life so far in the hope of providing inspiration to other sufferers.

He said: 'I’ve never let my condition hold me back. I’ve always tried to do what everyone else does and even if I failed, at least I tried.

'My family have kept me going and I’ve got very supportive friends. I’m very lucky as they do everything they can to make me happy.'

Dean weighs just 3st 10lbs - but his small body holds a big personality.

In his 20 years, Dean has learnt to drive, been engaged, got four tattoos and once even started a mechanics course at college. However, he was forced to quit when he was unable to get his tiny 4ft 1in frame over the cars’ bonnets.

Nevertheless, his achievements are astounding considering that when he was diagnosed with progeria at the age of seven, his mother Dawn Thomas, 41, was told he would not live beyond his early teens.

Back then, the condition was so poorly documented that most doctors had never even heard of it.

Dawn said: 'When Dean was about six months old I noticed he was a lot smaller than he should have been. He was still wearing clothes for a 0-3-month-old baby but the health visitors told me not to worry.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2134367/Progeria-Dean-Andrews-20-body-160-year-old-rare-condition.html#ixzz2jEKiXLJG