Man who received world's first double arm transplant rides bike for first time
A man who received the world's first double arm transplant has ridden a bike for the first time - two years after his surgery.
Felix Gretarsson, 50, had to have his arms amputated in January 1998 after he was electrocuted at work fixing power lines.
After decades without both arms, he convinced a surgeon to perform the world's first double arm and shoulder transplant in a 15-hour surgery in January 2021.
Since then, the former electrician shocked surgeons with his incredible progress - including being able to return to the gym, hug his children and drive.
Now, the public speaker has taken the next step and returned to cycling - an activity he used to enjoy before his accident.
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Felix, a dad-of-two, from Lyon, France, said: "Before my accident, I frequently used a bicycle to go to and from work.
Felix Gretarsson received the world's first double arm transplant (Felix Gretarsson / SWNS)"I had a chair for my little girl and I really liked using them. I had my eye on riding a bike again for a long time, even when I was waiting for my transplant, but I didn't know how it would go.
"Every six months I sit down with my occupational therapist and we come up with the five most important things I want to accomplish in the next six months.
"At the beginning, it was things like personal hygiene and feeding myself, but then a year ago I started putting riding a bicycle on that list."
He shocked surgeons with his incredible progress (Felix Gretarsson / SWNS.COM)As a child growing up in Iceland, Felix had a bike that used foot breaks, so began searching for a similar model.
He ordered the bike in February this year and took it for a ride earlier this month. He was also gifted a device from a US-based start-up, Hominid X, which helps people grip things more easily.
Felix said: "I was a little insecure because I knew I needed a bike where I'm not leaning forward.
"The steering itself wasn't the best form, but I was completely prepared for it not to go very well. I thought I would fall but I haven't yet.
The moment Felix got to hug his daughter for the first time since she was a three-month-old baby (Felix Gretarsson / SWNS)
He said his life is now getting 'back to normal' (Sylwia Gretarsson / SWNS)"I'm sure I will at some point but so far it's been OK. As the bike started to move I thought 'OK, I can do this.'
"I'm not street-ready yet but I have a feeling it's going to be a good summer.
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"It was a really good moment for me. The weather is so nice in France so it'll be nice to ride my bike to and from hospital appointments."
The grandad-of-five is continuing to push the boundaries and wants to climb the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, Mont Blanc, next year.
Before his accident, Felix was an electrician, and on January 12, 1998, was sent out to fix a line that carried enough electricity to power 500 homes.
Felix before his world-first operation (Felix Gretarsson / SWNS)There was confusion about how far he needed to go down the power line to get to the part that needed fixing, and he grabbed the wrong wire.
When he was electrocuted and fell 32ft to the ground, Felix broke his back in three places and fractured his neck, while his arms were set on fire.
He woke up from an induced coma three months later finding his arms had been amputated.
In 2007, Felix saw an advert on the television for a lecture at the University of Iceland by renowned surgeon Dr Jean-Michel Dubernard - famous for performing the first successful hand transplant in 1998.
He tracked him down and the surgeon said there was a possibility of a double arm transplant, but he would need to move to France so his team to do the appropriate preparations.
Four years later, surgeons accepted his application, and Felix launched a nationwide fundraising campaign in Iceland to help pay for the €200,000 (£176,500) operation.
In 2013, he moved away from Iceland to Lyon, and in 2017, the search began for a potential donor.
Finally, on January 11, 2021, he got a call saying a suitable donor had been found. Since the surgery, Felix's life has completely changed.
He said: "I'm doing great. My hands are still not very usable but I'm managing and everything's strengthening up.
"It definitely hasn't been easy. I've been going to the gym four times a week to reinforce my muscles - rehabilitation isn't enough.
"My life has changed enormously since my surgery. Those personal things like getting dressed or undressed are so important to me now.
"In November, I was alone for a whole weekend for the first time. After 25 years of being completely dependent on other people, this is a massive freedom."
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