A FAMILY is hoping to raise tens of thousands of pounds to help their little boy walk for the first time with his twin brother.

Austin and Freddie Winstanley, three, were born at Southend Hospital at 25 weeks, weighing just 1lb 10oz and 1lb 11oz – and they had just a ten per cent chance of survival.

The pair were immediately transferred to Homerton Neonatal Unit, Hackney, and while Freddie was allowed home in November, Austin and their parents Charlotte and Bradley lived at the unit for another 128 days.

In his short life, Austin has undergone brain surgery four times and two other major operations. He has also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Dad Bradley, 38, who lives in Thorpe Bay, said: “Both the boys are amazing. Austin is just so happy, he is a warrior. He is full of determination and gets frustrated because he is aware he can’t walk. Freddie is the joker. He is so loving towards Austin – he knows what he goes through. They both amaze everyone they meet.”

Austin and Freddie are miracle babies, with Charlotte, 36, and Bradley struggling to conceive naturally. The pair underwent IVF on the NHS and when one egg was chosen, it split to produce identical twins Austin and Freddie.

However, it was not to be plain sailing, and at 20 weeks, Charlotte was not feeling right. At 24 weeks she was put on early maternity leave.

It was only another week before Austin and Freddie were born at Southend Hospital on August 28, 2014.

They are now getting ready to go to Bournes Green Infant School, Southend, in September. If they had been born on their due date of December 8 they would not have been going for another year. The duo have beaten all the odds, with both being given an initial ten per cent chance of survival and Austin talking and being able to see despite being told he would not be able to. But there is one thing the twins would really like to now do together – walk.

Bradley, who himself was born early at 29 weeks, said: “We don’t like to think of anything we have gone through as a negative, rather we look at life as we are gifted. We saw 11 babies pass away on the unit while we were there.

“We are lucky. Austin wants to walk. When he is at nursery he sees all the other children running around and he is in his frame. This operation will offer him that opportunity. It will improve his life.”

The operation, Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, will remove the spasticity from Austin’s limbs by rewiring the nerves between his spine and his brain. But the treatment is not available on the NHS. The family are now trying to raise £75,000 for Austin so he can undergo the operation by the end of the year at Great Ormond Street Hospital. A black tie ball has been arranged for Saturday, October 6, at the Boatyard in Leigh to raise funds.

To donate text RHIZ83 to 70070 or visit justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/just4children/austinsnextbigstep Follow on Facebook by searching “Little Legends- Austin’s Next BIG Step”.