British boy, 8, is world’s youngest user of a bionic arm
A BOY of eight is the world’s youngest person to be fitted with a bionic “hero arm”, just days before his eighth birthday. He was able to celebrate at his party by eating his favourite burger with two hands for the first time.
Freddie Cook, from Bracknell, Berks, has been described as a “tech pioneer” by Open Bionics – the company that create the arm – as the world’s youngest user of a multigrip bionic arm.
It is the first medically approved prosthesis in Britain that allows for precise and delicate movements that other prosthetic hands cannot do. The device weighs less than a bag of sugar and has enabled active Freddie – who was born without a right hand – to be able to grip the handlebars of his scooter and climb with his friends.
Suzy Cook, 42, his mother, said: “It is brilliant. Freddie has become much more conscious about his hand recently so this is incredible. He really wanted to be able to eat a burger just like all of his friends.
“As soon as he put on the arm, he realised what to do; it was immediate. It will change his life.”
Speaking about the £10,000 arm – self-funded by his family – Freddie said: “I was so excited to use my new arm. It has let me do loads of new things with my friends and play like anyone else.
“I used to have to use an old prosthetic arm, which linked me to my scooter handlebars but now I can grip it like anyone else.
“I love that I can high-five everyone and shake my mum’s hand.”
Samantha Payne, co-founder of Open Bionics said: “We’re incredibly excited to fit Freddie with our smallest ever bionic arm.
“With the Hero Arm, we wanted to create a bionic technology that was very advanced but also available to the masses.”