Andrew Merryweather was a normal boy leading a normal life. That is, until a brutal assault involving eight schoolboys in Claremont left him paralyzed from the chest down. Now permanently wheelchair-bound, Andrew has become accustomed to his new life on wheels – but this doesn’t mean he’s given up. His determination to walk again just might make him Cape Town’s first bionic man.
The Robotic Exoskeleton, or Rex as he is more affectionately known, was unveiled yesterday at London’s Science Museum. Boffins have proven that body parts can be replaced by machines. Apart from the silver skeletal structure, synthetic skin and hair, Rex is real in every way. He pumps synthetic blood, has artificial organs and robotic limbs. […]