Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Dublin Live
Dublin Live
National
Laura Lyne

Sean Cox shares major update as he uses exoskeleton to walk on RTE's Prime Time

Sean Cox and his wife Martina will share the amazing progress he has made using the exoskeleton to walk as they appear on RTE's Prime Time tonight.

The father-of-three from Co Meath was left with life-changing brain injuries following an unprovoked attack before a Liverpool game in 2018. Now he's using the innovative exoskeleton treatment in DCU that allows him to walk upright with the aid of a robotic skeleton.

Martina revealed last week that they have revamped their house and built a gym in their back garden for Sean to exercise and do his therapy. On Prime Time tonight she'll tell Miriam O'Callaghan that the first time he used it to walk was extremely emotional for her.

Read more: Liverpool fan Sean Cox gets 'red carpet' treatment as he meets club legends

She said: " [It was] very emotional, really, really emotional to see him. He actually started in a sitting position and then he just stood up and then [just kinda] walked towards me. And even the look on his own face! It's so good. We don't know what is going to come out of this but psychologically it's really good for him."

The fifth anniversary of the attack was yesterday - it took place outside Liverpool's home ground Anfield on April 24 2018. Martina says the family are just trying to move and don't dwell on that life-changing day.

She continued: “I don't dwell on it, to be honest life is too busy and life is too short as well. We are just trying to move on, get the most out of life. Sean, he is a relatively young man still. We want to have really good memories. We are starting to go out a little bit more, we've gone on holidays. We just want to do more of those things."

Martina and Sean Cox with Miriam O'Callaghan on tonight's Prime Time (RTE)

"In sickness and in health, those words, they are so powerful. There was never a second thought I was going to do anything else but look after him.

"You think your life is carved out for you but then it just goes to show you really can't plan because this happened and then everything changed. But I'm still happy and Sean is happy and we still love each other and I think that's what makes all this work."

Sean and Martina rely on the help of carers that come to their home in Dunboyne, Co Meath, daily. But Martina says the Government needs to be doing more for families that rely on the service.

Read more: Sean Cox commended for brave and touching Late Late Show interview

She said: "Home care is particularly tricky at the minute, it hasn't been consistent. Sean's needs are high, recently a lot of the hours are not met, and this is down to the fact that there are not enough carers. The demand is really, really high for both disability and the elderly in the home but the supply of carers is just not there because I think what they are being paid is too low. I think the government need to definitely look at investing more money into this area."

READ NEXT:

Sign up to the Dublin Live Newsletter to get all the latest Dublin news straight to your inbox.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.