Boy, five, beams as he uses his new bionic arm to open Christmas presents all by himself for the first time
- Jacob Scrimshaw, from West Yorkshire, was born with most of left arm missing
- He’s the first child in Britain to be fitted with functioning prosthetic arm fixed above the elbow
- The bionic arm was created by Ben Ryan, from Anglesey, who runs Ambionics
Opening presents with family around the Christmas tree is one of the season’s greatest pleasures.
But ripping open wrapping paper was always difficult for five-year-old Jacob Scrimshaw. This Christmas, however, he was able to open presents all by himself thanks to the gift of a lifetime – a pioneering Hulk-themed bionic arm.
He is the first child in Britain to be fitted with a functioning prosthetic arm fixed above the elbow.
This Christmas five-year-old Jacob Scrimshaw was able to open presents all by himself thanks to the gift of a lifetime – a pioneering Hulk-themed bionic arm
It’s thanks to the genius of an inventor and the generosity of the public that Jacob was given the green limb, modelled on one of his favourite comic book characters – The Incredible Hulk.
The youngster, from Calderdale, West Yorkshire, was able to give festive hugs to his little brother Sebastian, three, and parents Gemma and Chris, both 36.
His mother said: ‘Jacob loves his arm. He is still getting used to it but it is great.’
Jacob is the first child in Britain to be fitted with a functioning prosthetic arm fixed above the elbow
Jacob, who was born prematurely with most of his left arm missing, got his prosthetic thanks to an appeal which raised £16,000.
It was created by Ben Ryan, from Anglesey, who runs Ambionics, and Jacob was one of his first patients.
The elbow can be set in different positions using a sliding lock, and the hand closes when Jacob squeezes a water-filled chamber mounted to the upper arm.