Beach launcher for sea swimming
A progressive condition has affected the mobility of an enthusiastic year round sea swimmer who swims with a group of friends. It has become increasingly difficulty for her to get in and out of the water safely and more difficult for her companions to assist her. She needed a wheelchair that would stay firmly on the sea bed when in waist high water so she can push herself off the wheelchair into deep water to swim and then slide back onto the wheelchair seat for her companions to pull her back on to dry land.
The Challenge
A progressive condition has affected the mobility of an enthusiastic year round sea swimmer who swims with a group of friends. The swimming is a great therapy for her, both for mind and body.
It has become increasingly difficulty for her to get in and out of the water safely and more difficult for her companions to assist her. She has tried the rental beach wheelchairs on her local beach, but these wheelchairs are designed to float so were not suitable for her. She needs a wheelchair that will stay firmly on the sea bed when in waist high water so she can push herself off the wheelchair into deep water to swim and then slide back onto the wheelchair seat for her companions to pull her back on to dry land. For safety she is advised to ask her companions to take the launcher back to shore while she is swimming, as although it stays in place in calm sea, it could be washed over in rough sea.
The solution
The design was a collaboration between the person, her family, the swim companions and the REMAP team. After 2 prototypes a final design emerged.
The REMAP maker sourced a recycled steel wheeled commode chair and removed the 4 small castor wheels. He added a sturdy axle at the front and the back of the frame to support 2 pairs of heavy, wide, wheelbarrow style wheels.
He created a large sturdy, angle adjustable push/pull handle from a recycled bike carrier, so now one or more people can pull the wheelchair backwards out of the seat, adjusting the angle of the handle to suit their height and preference.
The launcher has no brakes so instructions have been given that it can only be used when the handle is held firmly by a companion. The launcher can be pushed forward easily on firm flat sand but is easier to pull backwards on soft sand and in the sea. The handle can be used wheelchair style to lift rear wheels for easier forward manoeuvring on some surfaces.
The benefit
She is now able to go for a swim with family or with her swim group, at any time of the year and any time of the tide.
In her own words: ‘I absolutely love the beach launcher!! The family could see how happy I was and is going to push me in & out again tomorrow. Getting back on was actually considerably easier than the beach wheelchair that can be hired! A roaring success!!’
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