A three-year-old boy who defeated a deadly brain tumour is in danger of losing his life again because he is putting on weight so quickly.

Freddie Hunt, from Yateley, Hampshire, weighs 5st 13lbs - but he cannot stop piling on the pounds because of his hypothalamic obesity.

It was triggered after an invasive operation that removed 90 per cent of the fist-sized tumour in his brain damaged a nerve, doctors believe.

The pioneering surgery in the US took place following the NHS' refusal to operate on Freddie, because he was deemed high risk. 

Just 20 days after going under the knife, his belly began to bloat. But now he is no longer able to walk on his own or even sit up after putting on more than three stone in just six months. 

Heartbreaking photos reveal how the last-resort cancer treatment has ended with the toddler, who is blind in one eye, now unhappy and sofa-bound.

Knowing the fat retained in his body is already putting a strain on his liver and heart, his parents are desperate for a cure. 

His mother Abi Hunt said: 'We’re going to need something quick for him, because he’s not going to be around at this time next year.

'We don’t have any options left. If the drugs we want are unlicensed we’ll try them, because we are going to lose him anyway if we don’t.

'He’s obviously got the fat on his liver and around his heart and things like that, and that’s no good for his little size. He’s too small for his body to take it.

'It’s really tough, you know, just because it’s a constant chain of trying to battle all the time for him. 

'When you feel fed up, drained and heartbroken the last thing you want to do is to keep fighting to save your child’s life.'

Freddie, who flinches when touched and cries when lifted because of his sensitive skin, smiles when someone asks how he is doing.

Instead the toddler, who enjoys playing with his Peppa Pig toy and with his sister Holly, just replies with a timid 'good, thank you'.  

But when the family go out of town, they are greeted with stares and comments regarding Freddie's weight.

When their son piled on around 3lbs in one month, his parents called their local hospital for a check-up.

They were convinced that a few doses of medicine would conquer the final hurdle after everything they had been through.

Instead, they were met with apologetic looks when consulting experts at Frimley Park Hospital.

As a result of the brain surgery, Freddie developed hypothalamic obesity, caused by damaging a nerve in the brain that controls the body’s metabolism. 

Freddie was first diagnosed with a brain tumour on September 22 last year, when he was admitted to hospital for epileptic seizures.

At the time, he would suffer up to 80 of them a day.

A brain scan revealed the tumour was the size of his fist and was deeply embedded in the tissue.

Doctors warned the parents there was nothing they could do - and they instead turned their hopes to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona.

They managed to fundraise £450,000 in hope of trying proton therapy treatment through a Facebook page. 

Nearly half was raised through hoodies printed with Freddie's name on them and blue heart necklaces sold online. 

Mrs Hunt added: 'He has been so amazing. It’s our current inspiration, to be honest, because he is so happy and he doesn’t moan. 

'None of us feel weak and moan about our situation, because it must be far worse for him. He can’t walk.'

'When I finally got to speak to him after surgery i said: ‘"How are you?" and he went: "I’m good." I just went: "Are you? Bless your heart".'