Dolphin Tail Helps Humans | ABC30 Fresno | abc30.com

kfsn

By ABC30

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Fresno, CA A dolphin that lost her tail and survived is helping people who have lost a limb.

Winter the dolphin doesn't realize it, but she's a role model, she lost her tail to a crab trap nearly three years ago. She beat the odds and not only survived but is thriving thanks to a prosthetic tail, the latest model allows her to swim while protecting her spine from injury. v Abby Stone Head Animal Trainer said, "And so by using this prosthetic, she's able to move in a more natural way, the way dolphins were intended to move in the water."

From water to land, winter is helping humans too. The new rubber-like gel developed to keep the dolphin's tail secure underwater is working well for active amputees like prosthetic designer Dan Strzempka: "Either golfing, working, the perspiration was always an issue. They asked me why don't you go ahead and try it on yourself, just thinking, sure I'll try it, and give them some feedback. It ended up vastly improving my lifestyle as far as keeping the leg on."

Winter's progress has not only inspired science but the people who need it to stay active and out of the hospital.

Brandon Saunders, Amputee: "I felt like we had something in common because we both had our accidents in the water and we both have prosthetic legs."