A wounded Angus war veteran has taken a massive step on his road to rehabilitation thanks to a remarkable advancement in technology.
Carnoustie man Kevin Ogilvie has walked for only the second time in two years after testing out a revolutionary new exoskeleton at military rehab centre Headly Court.
Kevin, a senior aircraftsman with the RAF, was paralysed from the chest down after an improvised explosive device ripped through the armoured vehicle he was driving while on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2012.
The blast left the former Carnoustie High School pupil fighting for his life with seven broken and crushed vertebrae and other serious injuries.
He has gradually rebuilt his life through the support of his family, the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund and the Soldiers Sailors and Airmen’s Families Association and his recovery took another leap forward after he was given the chance to “test walk” a prototype device called Rehab Rex.
Manufactured by New Zealand-based firm Rex Bionics, the structure attaches to the wearer via straps from their torso to their feet and allows leg movement through the manipulation of a small, handheld joystick.
Kevin tried a similar device in the past but this was the first time he has been able to use his legs without the aid of crutches or arm support.
The 23-year-old said: “Rex is the second time I’ve had a chance to walk since being injured in 2012.
“The first time was with Ekso Bionics, which was a similar device being that it strapped to my body, but that required me to use either a Zimmer frame or crutches, whereas Rex supported my entire body and allowed my hands to remain free.
“Rex uses a small joystick attached to the handhold on the right side, which controls the movement of the machine.
“Both machines were weird to use, but weird in a good sense, having no feeling or control below my chest made seeing me moving even weirder.
“I feel lucky that I was able to try it out, as not a lot of people with my injury have been lucky enough to try one let alone two different walking aids.”
Kevin’s family have embarked on a fundraising campaign to pay back the two forces charities for their help and will be holding a Partylite candle sale in the Philip Hall, Dundee Street, in Carnoustie, on Saturday March 22 from 1pm to 3pm.
His brother Ali will also undertake two sponsored bungee jumps over the weekend of April 26 and 27, which has so far raised £1,300.
Visit www.ogilviefundraising.co.uk for more information on the family’s fund-raising events and how you can make a donation.