DANIEL McCarthy had the wish of a lifetime come true when he met TV’s Deadly 60 presenter Steve Backshall.

The nine-year-old cancer sufferer from Cholsey, near Wallingford, spent the day with his hero at Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire.

Daniel suffers with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and has had chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant from his youngster sister Katie.

His dream was made a reality by the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and he not only got to meet Mr Backshall, but also a real-life crocodile.

Daniel, who goes to Cholsey Primary School, said he is such a big fan of the TV presenter because “he is awesome and so brave”.

He said: “The best bit was when he pulled out the baby crocodile and allowed me to hold it.”

Throughout his long stays at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital, watching Steve Backshall’s Deadly 60 dangerous wildlife shows cheered him up. Daniel was diagnosed with lymphoma in January 2013. To refer a child for a wish or to make a donation, go to starlight.org.uk