A gifted deaf student from Greenwich is trying to raise the funds needed to follow his dream of becoming a biomedical research scientist.

Sam Garcia, 19, has secured a place at the University of Westminster to study biomedical science - becoming the first hearing impaired student at Shooters Hill Campus, Red Lion Lane to get into university to study science.

Mr Garcia, who lives with his parents in Haddo Street, was born with no hearing in one ear and very limited hearing in the other.

After arriving in the UK from Brazil 10 years ago, his visa does not allow him to take out a student loan to cover his fees and fund a note taker.

MORE TOP STORIES His teacher, Tony Pike, has set up a GoFundMe page in an attempt to raise the necessary funds.

He said: "Sam is a highly talented scientist and has earned the right to study at university to fulfil his dreams."

Mr Pike is aiming to raise £15,000, which will cover the overseas tuition rate, additional funds in place of a disabled student allowance and the cost of a note taker.

Mr Garcia said: "I have worked so hard to reach this point that I’m gutted to think I won’t be able to take up the place I have earned.

"When you cannot hear properly the world is a very scary place and everything is harder.

"All people deserve the right to access education regardless of their ability to hear or not."

News Shopper:

Tony and Sam

The ‘Help us send Sam to Uni’ GoFundMe page has raised more than £1,000 since it was launched.

His father told News Shopper: "This means everything to Sam and he is devastated that he can’t fulfil his dreams.

"He feels a bit lost and doesn’t really know what he would do with the rest of his life if this doesn’t happen."

Mr Garcia’s dream is to become a biomedical or biotechnology research scientist, so that he can help other people who are hearing impaired be able to hear again.

To donate visit gofundme.com/SamUniFund.

GoFundMe is a platform for people to organise their own campaigns to fundraise for a variety of causes.