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'Bionic' woman Claire Lomas completes Great North Run | 'Bionic' woman Claire Lomas completes Great North Run |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A paralysed woman wearing a "bionic" suit has completed the Great North Run, five days after she started it. | A paralysed woman wearing a "bionic" suit has completed the Great North Run, five days after she started it. |
Claire Lomas, from Leicestershire, was paralysed from the chest down in a riding accident in 2007. | Claire Lomas, from Leicestershire, was paralysed from the chest down in a riding accident in 2007. |
She began the half marathon, which runs from Newcastle to South Shields, on Wednesday and crossed the finish line at about 10:00 BST. | She began the half marathon, which runs from Newcastle to South Shields, on Wednesday and crossed the finish line at about 10:00 BST. |
The 36-year-old, who is 16 weeks pregnant, said she was "over the moon" to finish the run. | |
Live updates from the Great North Run. | |
Mo Farah wins for a record third year in a row. | |
She broke her neck, back and ribs and punctured a lung when her horse threw her off as she took part in the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire. | She broke her neck, back and ribs and punctured a lung when her horse threw her off as she took part in the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire. |
Mrs Lomas has no feeling below her chest and used a ReWalk robotic exoskeleton, which relies on motion sensors to help her move and lift her legs to walk the route. | |
How the 'ReWalk' suit works | |
Speaking to BBC Women's Hour before the Great North Run she said even standing in the suit was challenging. | |
"It's taken some learning. It's not just physical work, it's the concentration with every step," she said. | |
"It doesn't just walk for me. I have to use the parts that aren't paralysed to make it walk." | |
Morning sickness | |
She walked about three miles a day with the help of her husband Dan and was met at the finish line by her five-year-old daughter Maisie. | |
She said she had struggled to train because of morning sickness which meant there were times when she did not think she would make it to the start. | |
Other problems were caused by the heat, hills on the course and injuries caused by straps on her suit. | |
"I had quite a lot of morning sickness. I didn't have the lead up I wanted, but I really did not want to lose this opportunity," she said. | |
In 2012, Mrs Lomas completed the London Marathon in last place, inspiring many people with her courage and determination. | In 2012, Mrs Lomas completed the London Marathon in last place, inspiring many people with her courage and determination. |