Alan Gifford, from Swansea, is thought to have become the youngest in the world to have two prosthetic hands
Riding a bike and eating with a knife and fork may seem easy activities for an 11-year-old to carry out.
But for Alan Gifford, they are a whole new world after he had a second bionic hand fitted last week.
The boy from Swansea is thought to have become the youngest in the world to have two prosthetic hands.
He had both his own amputated at the age of three after complications arising from a heart condition.
His first state-of-the-art artificial hand was fitted in 2015 after his family raised 30,000 with the help of donors nationwide.
Supporters continued to help, meaning he could have the second made and fitted.
Alan, who aspires to be a special needs teacher, said: ‘I’m really happy. Now I can ride my bike and eat with a knife and fork on my own.
‘All of my friends like my new hands as well.’
Now he calls himself Bionic Boy and is the envy of his seven brothers and sisters. His mother Hannah Jones said: ‘He’s absolutely chuffed and is spending every day learning how to use both hands together.
‘Boys of that age want to be independent and now he can be. They’ve changed his life. The feeling I get when I see him using them is beyond words.
‘His confidence has soared and he has become even cheekier.’
The hands were made by Touch Bionics, based in Livingstone, Scotland, and can be programmed with four grips for different tasks controlled by Alan’s muscle signals
The hands were made by Touch Bionics, based in Livingstone, Scotland, and can be programmed with four grips for different tasks controlled by Alan’s muscle signals.
They cannot get wet and are removed every night and charged for use the next day.
His family is still raising funds to insure the prosthetics and prepare to have the hands replaced with largerversions when Alan turns 16.
For details on how to donate, go to www.gofundme.com/hands4alan