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Egyptian is first amputee to swim to Jordan

May 23, 2017 at 6:40 pm

Egyptian amputee Omar Hegazy became the first to swim from Egypt to Jordan in May 2017

An Egyptian has become the first amputee to swim from Egypt to Jordan, crossing a 20-kilometre stretch of the Red Sea’s Gulf of Aqaba last month in under nine hours.

Omar Hegazy, a 26-year-old banker, lost his left leg two years ago in a motorcycle accident he said left him with an identity crisis.

Egyptian amputee Omar Hegazy enjoys diving

Egyptian amputee Omar Hegazy enjoys diving

But Hegazy regained his strength through training and was able to take up sports he had enjoyed before his accident, including rock-climbing and snorkelling.

I used to lead a very active lifestyle… I didn’t know what I was anymore or how I was going to live. I like exploring, adventuring and doing things for the first time.

Hegazy raised funds for the swim through local sponsors and audiences tracked his progress across the coral-rich gulf through a Twitter hashtag he created to raise awareness about people enduring mental and physical disabilities.

“I see life in near-death experiences and I want to [bring people along for the ride],” he said.