A British amputee has built his own swimming prosthetic using inexpensive parts bought online after learning that a commercial prosthetic could cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Alex Young, 46, from Blandford, Dorset, England, designed and built the paddle-style prosthetic for about $340 (£250) using components from Temu, AliExpress and hardware stores. The device allowed him to swim in the sea with his girlfriend for the first time in two years.

Young previously built his own everyday prosthetic leg for around $135 (£100) after facing a quote of about $47,000 (£35,000) for a commercially available prosthesis following the amputation of his right leg in 2025.

The former engineer says he hopes his designs will inspire other amputees to stay active while raising awareness of the limited range of prosthetic options available through the UK’s National Health Service.