I built my own prosthetic leg for swimming

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. I built my own prosthetic leg for swimming3 days ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleSarah BawdenAlex Young hopes to do a triathlon with his home-made prosthesesA former engineer who underwent a life-saving amputation has built his own prosthetic limb for swimming. Alex Young, 46, from Blandford, Dorset, developed osteomyelitis - a potentially deadly bone infection that caused him severe pain. He opted to have his leg removed below the knee in August 2025.

He previously built a running prosthesis from cut-price components he found online and has now tested his second home-made limb in the sea. He said: "It went really well as a first trial. I want the option to do maybe a triathlon.

The Details

"Allow TikTok content? This article contains content provided by TikTok . We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies.

You may want to read TikTok’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’. Accept and continue The is not responsible for the content of external sites.

TikTok content may contain adverts. Young, who previously ran the award-winning Ginger Viking cocktail bar in Blandford, also worked for 15 years as an engineer. He said he had the idea of building a prosthetic swimming leg after being unable to find a suitable alternative.

What Experts Say

"It's a paddle that is attached to the bottom of a metal rod and I've made a leg that I can walk into the water with and can actually swim," he explained. "I used to paddleboard a lot and I thought if I put a paddle on the end of a leg, it will basically replicate a foot. "Sarah BawdenThe swimming prosthesis is designed like a paddleHis limb test at Knoll Beach on Studland was his first sea swim for two years.

Young said his next task might be to design a cycling prosthesis to enable him to do the triathlon. He is already planning to run 5km (3 miles) in Blandford on 3 July to raise money for Dorset County Hospital. "I've got an idea for next year to do some more charity work, perhaps even do Mount Kilimanjaro," he added.

"You see so many people on amputee websites saying: 'I can't do this, I can't do that. ' I want to keep active.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.