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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Kirsty McCormack

Man 'defying medical expectations' after world's first double arm transplant

A man who underwent the world's first ever double arm transplant is 'defying medical expectations' and living his life to the fullest.

Felix Gretarsson, 49, from Kópavogur, Iceland, had to have his arms amputated after he was electrocuted at work in 1998 and ever since has been unable to hug his daughter or grandchildren.

Felix appeared on Friday's edition of Good Morning Britain alongside his wife Silvia, where he spoke to hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway about how his life has changed since the operation.

Starting the segment, Ben said: "His recovery has amazed doctors, he's now able to use both of his arms, a sensation he'd missed for over two decades."

Felix Gretarsson underwent the world's first ever double arm transplant (ITV)

Mother-of-two Kate then asked: "How are things feeling in your new arms and hands now?"

Felix replied: "Well I am feeling everything. I have feelings in every finger, in the hand. It's not fully developed. I was sweeping around the pool the other day and I didn't realise when I got blisters until I saw the blood.

"The nerves are connected here somewhere under the collarbone and the nerves they kind of grow inside these tubes so they connect my tubes to the donor's tubes and the nerve inside the donor's arm, they just dissipate with time and then mine start to grow inside there," he continued.

Felix appeared on Friday's edition of Good Morning Britain (ITV)

"In the beginning, there came a little bit of strength in the biceps and the triceps on the back and obviously the hand is the last, and the hand is the most complicated because there is so many little muscles and nerves, so I am able to almost close a fist on the right side, I can flicker them a little bit on the left."

Ben then said: "So you're actually defying the medical expectation which is one of the exciting things, because what they are seeing from you, is the potential that something like this is offering you and other people must be incredible?"

As the interview came to an end, Kate Garraway stood up and asked Felix if she could shake his hand (ITV)

"Yeah I know, and I get messages every day and people asking me,' how can I get this kind of operation?' I'm not in a position to get anybody this operation but then I am in a position to do what I can do to make sure it's as successful as possible," Felix said.

As the interview came to an end, TV presenter Kate stood up and asked Felix if she could shake his hand - she then proceeded to shake his wife's hand too.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV and ITV hub.

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