A TEENAGER from Sticklepath who has endured 52 operations since falling into a bath of boiling water as a baby has been highly commended at a national award ceremony for bravery.

Kieran Shilston suffered 60% burns when he was eight months old, and his heart stopped beating three times on the operating table.

Now at the age of 16 he still faces countless operations ahead to allow his skin grafts to grow as he grows.?But bravery and his ability to smile through all the pain was recognised at the awards ceremony in the House of Commons on Tuesday.

The Stagecoach Theatre Arts Awards are awarded to children who have faced adversity, demonstrated bravery, shown courage or have cared for others.

Kieran, who lives with his grandparents Janet and David Shilston, was given life-saving treatment at Frenchay Hospital in Bristol, where he frequently visits for ongoing operations and treatment as well as at London and Exeter.

A student at Okehampton College, where he is studying business and travel, Kieran said he was shocked to hear he had been nominated for an award but had been really looking forward to going to the House of Commons.

'It has always been hard for me as I fell behind with school work because I was in hospital for weeks on end. But I would tell anyone that they have to work hard to get the grades they need to do well at school and not to let it get you down.'

Kieran's grandmother Janet Shilston, 64, who attended the award ceremony with her husband and son Kelvin, Kieran's father, said: ' It has been awful for Kieran and for the family sitting by his bedside, but Kieran is a very determined person with a big heart.

He is a wonderful grandson and he has been marvellous through all this. He gets frustrated but never angry and he has tremendous perseverance and fight to get on with life.'

She added that Kieran's life almost ended in the operating theatre on three occasions: 'He was a brave little fighter back then and he still is. I would give him the moon if I could.'

Mrs Shilston praised the dedication of the doctors and nurses at Frenchay over the years. The hospital was like the family's 'second home'.

Clinical lead for specialised paediatrics at Frenchay Amber Young said: 'It is wonderful to see Kieran doing so well after his injuries and this is a real testament to the care and support of his family and the burns team at Frenchay.

'Being nominated for this bravery award recognises the huge strides he has made to overcome his burns.'

Kieran was nominated by the Children's Burns Trust organisation which offers practical help to burns survivors in the UK.

Joy Hudson, formerly of the trust, who has known Kieran since the age of six said all the children who were at the award ceremony were 'unbelievably special',

'It was a very humbling experience,' she said. 'Kieran was one of the first children we presented an award of courage to when he was just six.

'He has spent all but the first few months of his life in and out of hospital and he is an extraordinarily brave and gracious young man with an amazingly supportive family. They deserve all the recognition they can get.'