A former GAA star who suffered major spinal trauma is walking again with the help of an exoskeleton suit. 

Three years ago, Waterford hurler Mark Dalton was involved in a car crash along with his twin brother.

He was in hospital for weeks and usually uses a wheelchair to get around.

Despite his injuries, he maintains his interest in sport and exercise through trips to the local gym.

Every time he alternates what he does, first he does weights and the next time he uses an exoskeleton suit - which he describes as “legs with straps and braces and stuff that I get hooked up to”.

“It’s all censors with the crutches I use, so I move crutches and then they move the legs with it,” he told Moncreiff.

He has been using it for two years now and spends between 40 minutes to an hour on it at a time.

“You build up tolerance,” he said.

“You get better at it… It helps with my blood pressure, my bone density and things like that.

“There are a lot of different benefits to it alright.”

Driving

Mr Dalton now also has a driving licence and drives with a specially adapted car where the pedals can be operated by the driver’s hand instead of feet.

“I got in contact with a driving instructor in Cork and he[taught me] with the control aid I had in the car,” he said.

“He showed me how to do it from there.”

Originally, he thought it would be “ trickier than it is” to learn but the reality turned out to be quite simple.

“It’s actually very straightforward, it’s just a push, pull aid like,” he said.

Now aged 20, Mr Dalton is uncertain what his future holds but suspects regular sessions at the gym will be part of it.

“Hopefully I’ll be fit and healthy anyway, then I’ll see what happens,” he said.

If you wish to help Mr Dalton continue his rehabilitation by contributing towards for state-of-the-art rehabilitation devices and training for wheelchair users, you can do so here.

Main image: Mark Dalton