It involved surgery, including having his nerve system rewired, and months of learning how to use the new arm.

Cpl Garthwaite was badly injured in Helmand, Afghanistan, in September 2010 when a Taliban rocket-propelled grenade took off his right arm and killed one of his comrades.

He was given one arm and learnt how to carry out everyday tasks with it before learning he would have one of the latest models of bionic arm fitted.

To prepare for the technology the soldier underwent six hours of surgery at a hospital in Austria in January 2012 in a procedure called Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR).

The surgeons at the hospital in the Medical University of Vienna had to rewire his nervous system – taking the nerve endings from his shoulder, that would have run down to his hand – and rewired these into his chest muscles.

This has meant over the past 18 months, Cpl Garthwaite has had the sensation of a hand growing in his chest. He has had to learn to use that hand again – with electrodes sending signals into the bionic arm so that he can control the prosthesis.

He is believed to be the first person from the UK to undergo this cutting-edge technique in the field of bionics.

Cpl Garthwaite said he had been “lost for words” when he learnt that and was “honoured” to have been chosen.

The arm was developed by bionics company Otto Bock, in Vienna. It says this new kind of intelligent upper limb prosthesis can be controlled using the same nerves organically responsible for arm movement and enables more natural movements.

The patient, they say, performs movements intuitively, and the prosthesis can directly convert the thought commands.

He will be able to think several moves and his arm and hand will react naturally. His bionic arm will be thought-controlled.

Cpl Garthwaite is now getting used to controlling his new arm and hand. With his nerve system rewired, he can feel his hand in his chest and by thinking of moving individual fingers, he can move his bionic hand.

“Because obviously I haven’t had a thumb or a finger for the last three years, then all of a sudden to start feeling stuff is a total weird feeling so you have got to train your brain to move this hand,” he said.

But he has to be careful. If he thinks of moving his little finger too quickly it will rotate his hand, all the way around 360 degrees.

This – he says – is “his party trick”.

He says it looks “very natural and people generally do not notice that it is a prosthesis, but are often surprised as it makes robotic sounds when it moves.

Cpl Garthwaite said he was enjoying being able to more around the house and being far more independent.

He said: “There is no point in looking back because you can never turn back time.

“I am still very lucky to be here and I am very fortunate to be here and with this new life I have got hopefully I can be very successful in it.”

BBC

Eric Ollerenshaw MP discusses access to prosthetics with British Paralympian, Louise Hunt, at an exhibition at the House of Commons supported by Ottobock.

Eric Ollerenshaw MP hosts event with Parliamentarians and amputees in a drive to deliver greater awareness for access to prosthetics

Ottobock, a world-leading supplier of innovative solutions for people with limited mobility, has supported an exhibition at the House of Commons promoting access to prosthetics for disabled people. The event was hosted by Eric Ollerenshaw MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood, and attended by more than 30 Parliamentarians with support from a number of amputees including British Paralympian and Wheelchair Tennis World Team Cup silver and bronze winner, Louise Hunt.

The exhibition showcased a number of leading-edge prosthetics and disability technologies, including the C-Leg and Genium micro-processor knees from Ottobock, a running blade and a tennis wheelchair. Parliamentarians also met with entrepreneur Matthew Newbury, the first person in the UK to be fitted with a Genium; and Keira Roche, who will be taking part in the 2013 London Marathon on a C-Leg.

“Providing disabled people across the country with access to suitable prosthetics is vital which is why I am supporting this exhibition on access to prosthetics. I want to help raise awareness of the issues surrounding access to prosthetics, and I am trying to ensure that across the UK every person with an amputation, who can benefit from a microprocessor knee, or another form of prosthetic technology, has access to them,” said Eric Ollerenshaw MP. “People with disabilities do not always receive the support that they need to fulfil their lives and it is so important to ensure that these people have all the advantages that they should have to reach and surpass their potential. This will be a fantastic legacy from the Paralympic Games.”

“The Ministry of Defence’s recent announcement to provide injured military personnel with the most up-to-date prosthetic limbs was very welcome, but there are many more individuals across the UK who would benefit from access to that technology,” said Philip Yates, Managing Director at Ottobock UK. “Ottobock is pleased to raise this debate with Parliamentarians that represent hundreds of thousands of people across the country, and we are hopeful our exhibition will leave a lasting impression on them.”

In addition to viewing demonstrations on advanced prosthetic technology for amputees, attending Parliamentarians were invited to pledge their support for Ottobock’s Access to Prosthetics campaign. The campaign’s objective is to promote the availability of appropriate and advanced technology to military and civilian amputees. For more information on Ottobock’s range of innovative solutions that restore mobility please visit www.ottobock.co.uk or follow @ottobockuk.

About Ottobock Healthcare

Ottobock is a world leading supplier of high quality, innovative and practical solutions that restore human mobility and help people to rediscover personal independence. Ottobock Healthcare is part of the Ottobock global group of companies established in the UK in 1976. Its wide product range includes high quality prosthetic and orthotic components, wheelchairs, rehabilitation and mobility products available through the country’s leading clinics and dealers. With a highly motivated and skilled team of professionals offering expert advice, product sales, service and support, Ottobock solutions enhance the physical comfort, confidence and mobility of the individual. Ottobock aims to achieve the best possible outcome for its customers, combining the latest technology with cutting-edge products and services.