Ex-Marine Paralympian designs inclusive wheelchair

A former Royal Marine and Paralympian has developed his own powered wheelchair after a disease he caught while serving in the forces left him unable to walk.

Phil Eaglesham, 44, served at 40 Commando in Taunton, Somerset but contracted the disease, called Q Fever, on his third Operational tour of duty in Afghanistan in 2010.

Left relying on mobility devices and 24-hour care, the former corporal designed an all-terrain elevating wheelchair, named the Omni wheelchair, which is designed to be inclusive.

Eaglesman told BBC Radio Somerset: "Creating this chair enables me to be a dad and wife. I can hold my wife's hand whilst walking down the street, rather than reaching up like a child in a pram."

"You can be in the wheelchair at different heights really easily. I'm 5ft 9in (1.75m) in height and can travel down the street in the chair at 5ft 10in (1.77m) and people see you.

"We designed a power wheelchair that adapts to the world we live instead of waiting for the world to adapt to us."

Eaglesman who is a two-time Paralympian and lives in Taunton, said contracting Q Fever was "horrendous" and changed his life "forever".

According to the NHS, Q fever is a bacterial infection that can be spread to humans by infected animals - most commonly by sheep, cattle and goats.

The infection is found worldwide, but cases in humans are rare in the UK, with only about 50 cases being recorded each year.

Most people with Q fever will either have no symptoms or mild flu-like symptoms.

However, the symptoms can sometimes last several months and occasionally the infection can lead to life-threatening problems if it spreads to other parts of the body such as the heart.

Eaglesman, who trained in Plymouth, continued: "Mentally I did really struggle, I ended up in a wheelchiar and that was hard.

"In 2014, I contemplated taking my own life. My family, and my wife were amazing and I actually got help from people and charities with looking to my future. Ten months later, I was competing at the Paralympics."

Eaglesman went onto compete in target shooting at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

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Eaglesman continued: "When you're in a wheelchair, when you leave your house, you're constantly looking for problems and access. Like is a car blocking a pavement, are there stairs on the route?

"We've just launched into the market, and we've made 30 this year and this chair can really make a difference."

"It's enables me to do things that make me feel like a dad or a husband again. That's what is priceless."

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