Killarney man Ian O’Connell with his new wheelchair that allows him to elevate himself to a standing position.
Killarney’s Ian O’Connell took to social media this week to show off his new state-of-the-art wheelchair which allows him to raise himself into a standing position.
Ian was left wheelchair bound after a devastating cycling accident when he was just 16 years old in Killarney National Park.
Posting about his new wheelchair on social media, Ian said that being able to raise himself up into a standing position is “vital” for someone like him with a spinal cord injury as it helps with numerous things such as blood flow, muscle and joint health, skin health, digestion and respiratory just to name a few.
“Imagine sitting in one position 99% of the time and then standing up, the feeling is unbelievable,” he wrote.
Ian’s post was flooded with congratulatory comments and well-wishes from his followers.
“Fantastic piece of equipment hope it helps you. Delighted to see this as the saying goes onwards and upwards” wrote one person while another added “Ian, you’re proving that with the right tools and mindset, anything is possible! Keep standing out.”
Follow the Ian O’Connell Trust Facebook page to keep up with Ian’s story.