He won nine[1][4][5] gold medals across three Paralympic Games competing as a British Paralympian in C4 events.

Born in England with hereditary spastic paraplegia,[6] Surgeoner was introduced to the pool through hydrotherapy and took to swimming at an early age.

He found that he could keep pace with able-bodied children of the same age in swimming galas in Hong Kong, before the family returned to England in 1974 in time for him to attend secondary school.

[3] Surgeoner then competed in the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, finishing fourth in both the 100 m Breaststroke SB5 and 4x50 m Medley Relay S1-6.

[7] Surgeoner was included in the 1989 New Year Honours and was awarded an MBE for services to sport for the disabled.