Man who underwent world's first double arm transplant can now flex his biceps | SWNS
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A man who underwent the
A man who underwent the first full double arm transplant in the world has revealed the operation was a success - and he can now flex his donor biceps.
Felix Gretarsson, 49, was electrocuted while trying to fix a powerline and both his arms were set on fire in 1998.
He had 54 operations while in a three-month-long coma - and doctors had to remove both of his arms to save his life.
He turned to drugs and alcohol abuse to help him cope, and underwent two liver transplants in less than a year just to save him.
Felix tracked down a world renowned surgeon and begged him to perform a never-before-attempted transplant - moving half way across the world to be in line.
On the 23 year anniversary of his accident, he had a double arm and shoulder transplant in a 15 hour surgery, in January this year.
Six months on, thanks to hundreds of hours of rehabilitation work, he can move his arms.
Felix, from Kópavogur, Iceland, is fighting hard to be able to hug his children again and his wife and grandkids for the first time.
Speaking about waking up with new arms, he said: "The first thing I thought was who the f**k does this on purpose, because the pain when I woke up was so excruciating.
"It was like there was two trucks parked on each of my shoulders.
"Having been through hospitalisation before I kind of knew the first time it feels like the end of the world and that you're going to be a patient for the rest of your life.
"But when you recover you know its just temporary this s**t will pass so I put my heels down and put my head down."
Felix, who now lives in Lyon, France, added: "The feeling in the nerves can be a little painful when they grow.
"If you poke my arm I can feel the nerves inside even if I can't feel the skin.
"I am moving the elbow in water, my bicep is now working and that's only five months after.
"I just noticed the veins in my arms are starting to expand in the heat and that doesn't happen unless automatic nervous system is working.
"I am so hopeful that I am going to be able to move my hands as well which nobody expected - except me."
Before his accident Felix was an electrician, and on January 12 1998, was sent out to fix a line that carried enough electricity to power 500 homes.
There was confusion about how far he needed to go down the power line to get to the part that needed fixing, and he grabbed the wrong wire.
He was electrocuted and fell 32ft to the ground.
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Felix Gretarsson, 49, was electrocuted while trying to fix a powerline and both his arms were set on fire in 1998.
He had 54 operations while in a three-month-long coma - and doctors had to remove both of his arms to save his life.
He turned to drugs and alcohol abuse to help him cope, and underwent two liver transplants in less than a year just to save him.
Felix tracked down a world renowned surgeon and begged him to perform a never-before-attempted transplant - moving half way across the world to be in line.
On the 23 year anniversary of his accident, he had a double arm and shoulder transplant in a 15 hour surgery, in January this year.
Six months on, thanks to hundreds of hours of rehabilitation work, he can move his arms.
Felix, from Kópavogur, Iceland, is fighting hard to be able to hug his children again and his wife and grandkids for the first time.
Speaking about waking up with new arms, he said: "The first thing I thought was who the f**k does this on purpose, because the pain when I woke up was so excruciating.
"It was like there was two trucks parked on each of my shoulders.
"Having been through hospitalisation before I kind of knew the first time it feels like the end of the world and that you're going to be a patient for the rest of your life.
"But when you recover you know its just temporary this s**t will pass so I put my heels down and put my head down."
Felix, who now lives in Lyon, France, added: "The feeling in the nerves can be a little painful when they grow.
"If you poke my arm I can feel the nerves inside even if I can't feel the skin.
"I am moving the elbow in water, my bicep is now working and that's only five months after.
"I just noticed the veins in my arms are starting to expand in the heat and that doesn't happen unless automatic nervous system is working.
"I am so hopeful that I am going to be able to move my hands as well which nobody expected - except me."
Before his accident Felix was an electrician, and on January 12 1998, was sent out to fix a line that carried enough electricity to power 500 homes.
There was confusion about how far he needed to go down the power line to get to the part that needed fixing, and he grabbed the wrong wire.
He was electrocuted and fell 32ft to the ground.
* This content is being managed by SWNS. To licence for editorial or commercial use please contact [email protected] 0117 9066550*
Subscribe to our channel to be the first to see our viral, breaking news videos. Twitter.com/swns Instagram.com/swns
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