A WIDNES boxing superfan has achieved his dream of a lifetime to meet his idol Tyson Fury.

Sean McCarthy, from Hough Green, Widnes, met his idol after posting a status on social media about how much he wanted to meet the heavyweight boxer.

Suffering with depression since he was around 16, Sean also has learning difficulties and says Tyson has helped him overcome obstacles in his life.

The 31-year-old wrote on Facebook: "With the power of social media. I would love to be able to get to meet my hero and idol Tyson Fury.

"I am hoping people with share my post. Not going into to much but this year has been somewhat hard with things going on.

"Tyson has been nothing but my inspiration in hard times and someone who I look up to it would be a dream come true for me."

The status was shared 181 times and ended up reaching Tyson's wife Paris who got in touch with Sean.

He was then invited to Wyvern Theatre in Swindon on July 5, where he got to achieve his dream.

He told the World: "It all came about when I put a post on Facebook and it got shared hundreds of times. Paris Fury then got in touch and asked for my number.

Not long after I got a call from Tyson's promo team 'Gold Star Promotions' and they invited me down to see Tyson in Swindon.

"So I travelled with my cousin Luke to Swindon and we were his VIPs and met him backstage

"I was delighted to have got the chance to meet him. It was a dream come true.

"He told me about how he rose back up after overcoming adversity and depression after getting knocked down by Deontay wilder and how I was an inspiration to him.

"If anyone has any dreams then pursue them, this is proof of that."

Sean also posted a video on social media with the 'Gypsy King.'

Tyson said: "Fans like you, make a sport worth doing. Keep going, keep up what you're doing, keep up the good work. God bless you."