A young father has launched a desperate manhunt for his missing prosthetic leg after it came off while he was jetskiing and disappeared in murky water.
Toby Bird, a fitness instructor from Newcastle, NSW, was zooming through Lake Macquarie when he hit a wave and noticed his $40,000 right leg had fallen into the water.
The 24-year-old and his mates combed the area but were unable to locate his expensive prosthetic limb – and now he needs help from the public to find it.
Toby Bird, (pictured) a fitness instructor from Newcastle, NSW, was zooming through Lake Macquarie when he hit a wave and noticed his $40,000 right leg had disappeared into the water
The 24-year-old (right) and his mates combed the area but were unable to locate his expensive prosthetic limb – and now he needs help from the public to find it
‘I looked down and then I said to me mate, oi bro my leg fell off,’ Mr Bird told the Newcastle Herald.
‘We stopped and went back to look for it, but it was just gone.’
Mr Bird, who lost his leg in a car crash five years ago, did not have the carbon fiber limb insured but hopes it may eventually wash up on the shore.
The young father uses the waterproof artificial limb to take his daughter swimming – something he is unable to do now.
He has since issued a public appeal to the people of Newcastle to assist in rescuing his leg from its watery grave.
Mr Bird, who lost his leg in a car crash five years ago, did not have the carbon fiber limb insured but hopes it may eventually wash up on the shore
The young father (pictured) uses the waterproof artificial limb to take his daughter swimming – something he is unable to do now
The day he lost the leg friendly local Chris Smith volunteered to dive into the water to help look for it.
However, after two long hours searching, the man sadly resurfaced empty-handed.
The prosthetic leg is grey in colour, with a skin-coloured foot attached to the end.
‘There can’t be that many legs floating around the lake,’ a good-humoured Mr Bird added.
Members of the community are now rallying behind the water sports enthusiast as he tries to find the money to replace his much-needed leg.
Mr Bird’s prosthetic leg landed around the area of Pelican Beach (pictured on map)
Members of the community are now rallying behind the water sports enthusiast as he tries to find the money to replace his much-needed leg (Pictured is the Swansea channel)
He has been able to get around on his ‘everyday’ prosthetic limb but is clamouring to get back into the water.
‘I lost my waterproof sports leg… I still have a everyday bionic one… it just means I can’t do much fun stuff or swimming,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
He has asked for everyone in the area to ‘keep their eyes open for a foot in the sea’.
‘I’m praying it turns up,’ he added.
Those wishing to help Mr Bird raise the funds to replace his prosthetic limb can donate here.