This is one of the most inspiring stories we’ve ever seen: Claire Lomas of the U.K. was paralyzed from the chest down in a horse-riding accident five years ago. Yet today, she accomplished something difficult for anyone: she finished the London Marathon. It took 16 days and one impressive bionic exoskeleton, but she did it. Watch the video and try not to tear up a little, I dare you.
Claire suffered a severe spinal injury when thrown from her horse in 2007, breaking her neck, back, and several ribs. The bionic suit, made by Israeli firm ReWalk, is an FDA-approved motorized skeleton replacement that straps onto the sides of the legs and hips, with power in a backpack, that senses movement and delivers power to the motors as needed. We’ve listed it in the Best of What’s New, and it’s actually been featured on the TV show Glee, but this is the first time it’s been used to complete a marathon. See the video below:
from Popular Science – New Technology, Science News, The Future Now