Boy, 12, given special bionic hand with ‘paddle’ to help him fulfil dream of playing basketball
A ONE-armed boy desperate to play basketball has been fitted with a special bionic hand.
Jacob Harper, 12, was born without a left hand — and used to tell pals it was bitten off by a shark.
He found it difficult to play his favourite sport, so specialists from the Sussex Limb Centre stepped in and made him a “paddle” attachment.
Dad David, 45, a sales manager, said: “Its fantastic watching him play now.
“No one had ever asked the team at the limb centre for anything like this before, so they had to research and custom build it for him.
“They have done an amazing job.”
The centre had previously made other hands to help Jacob ride a bike, paddle a canoe and even play the violin.
David, who also lives with wife Clare, 45, and son Samuel, 14, in Mid Sussex, said: “He’s never let having one hand hold him back.
“Now its onwards and upwards on the basketball court too.
“We have a practise hoop at home, and he’s already doing really well using the special paddle hand.”