A man who received the world's first double arm transplant has ridden a bike for the first time - two years after surgery.

Felix Gretarsson, 50, had to have his arms amputated in January 1998 after he was electrocuted at work fixing power lines.

After decades without both arms, he convinced a surgeon to perform the world's first double arm and shoulder transplant in a 15-hour surgery in January 2021.

The former electrician shocked surgeons with his incredible progress - being able to return to the gym, hug his children and drive.

Now, the public speaker has taken the next step and returned to cycling - an activity he used to enjoy before his accident.

Felix, a dad-of-two, from Lyon, France, said: "Before my accident I frequently used a bicycle to go to and from work. "

"I had a chair for my little girl and I really liked using them."

"I had my eye on riding a bike again for a long time, even when I was waiting for my transplant, but I didn't know how it would go."

"Every six months I sit down with my occupational therapist and we come up with the five most important things I want to accomplish in the next six months."

"At the beginning it was things like personal hygiene and feeding myself, but then a year"

ago I started putting riding a bicycle on that list."

As a child growing up in Iceland, Felix had a bike that used foot breaks, so began searching for a similar model.

He ordered the bike in February this year, and took it or a ride earlier this month (9).



He was also gifted a device from a US-based start-up, Hominid X, which helps people grip things more easily.

Felix said: "I was a little insecure because I knew I needed a bike where I'm not leaning forward."

"The steering itself wasn't the best form, but I was completely prepared for it not to go very well. "

"I thought I would fall but I haven't yet. "

"I'm sure I will at some point but so far it's been OK."

"As the bike started to move I thought 'OK, I can do this.' "

"I'm not street ready yet but I have a feeling it's going to be a good summer."

"It was a really good moment for me. The weather is so nice in France so it'll be nice to ride my bike to and from hospital appointments."

The grandad-of-five is continuing to push the boundaries.

He wants to climb the highest mountain in the Alps and Western Europe, Mont Blanc, next year.

Before his accident Felix was an electrician, and on January 12, 1998, was sent out to fix a line that carried enough electricity to power 500 homes.

There was confusion about how far he needed to go down the power line to get to the part that needed fixing, and he grabbed the wrong wire.

He was electrocuted and fell 32ft to the ground.