VIDEO: Paralysed Cork man to walk marathon in robotic exoskeleton suit

An Irish man who is 85% paralysed is set to walk a marathon with the help of an ultra-advanced robotic exoskeleton.

Wed, 29 Apr, 2015 - 01:00

Olivia Kelleher

Nathan Kirwan, 26, from Currabinny, Co Cork, will attempt 55,000 steps in the exoskeleton over a five-month period to raise funds to keep the expensive device in Ireland.

Nathan is appealing for the public to sponsor just €2 for every step he takes during this ‘Walk with Me Challenge’ to cover the €150,000 cost of purchasing Ireland’s first gym-based exoskeleton. It is presently based in Elite Gym in Cork and if it is not financed in full before October, will be returned to the manufacturer.

The exoskeleton, aptly named Lazarus, will not only continue to assist Nathan to walk, but it can be used by others who have suffered stroke, MS, or spinal cord injury. It is the only one of its kind available to the public in Ireland and people have been coming to Cork from Galway and Cavan — even France — to use it.

When Nathan was asked what it meant to wheelchair users, he said: “This is not necessarily about walking. This is about standing up out of a permanent sitting position, moving in a walking motion, whilst getting the benefits of walking. Able- bodied people need to walk to stay healthy and this is especially true for wheelchair users.”

Exoskeletons were originally designed for military use to help soldiers carry heavy loads both in and out of combat. It is hoped that they will play a big role in the lives of people with spinal injuries.

In June 2013, Nathan severed his spinal cord in a fall, leaving him paralysed from the chest down.

The Walk with Me challenge will officially get underway at the Wings for Life run in Dublin on May 3, a charity that raises funds for research projects dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injury.

Donate a the Helpful Steps page on www.gofundme.com