Implant opens doors for quadriplegic

 A quadriplegic has had a microchip embedded in his body to help him regain his independence.

Alex Lewis, 37, nearly died in 2013 when, after thinking he just had a cold, he was diagnosed with a rare bacterial infection that made his flesh start to eat itself. He was given just days to live, but survived after all four of his limbs were removed.

Now, Mr Lewis has had a microchip installed in the stump of his left arm, which enables him to open the front door of his home in Hampshire and his car door. Eventually, the chip, which uses the same technology as pet microchips, will also contain all his medical records, in case he needs to return to hospital.

Mr Lewis, married to Lucy with a son, Sam, can now get in and out of the house and his car by himself and let friends and family in, rather than depending on his wife or carers.

He said: “The independence this will give me is great. One of the worst things about what happened four years ago is the lack of independence.”