HEARTWARMING footage shows a youngster with cerebral palsy who hated the beach enjoying the sea for the first time thanks to a specialised wheelchair.
Joey Leathwood was captured smiling with joy as he enjoyed a visit to Skegness Beach in Lincolnshire with his parents, Helen and Tom, on Friday.
The two-year-old from Sheffield often struggles with sensory textures such as grass, sand, snow and sun so usually doesn’t enjoy trips to the seaside.
In the past the youngster’s sensory issues have resulted in Joey vomiting when placed on a fluffy rug.
However, thanks to the Facebook community group Ingoldmells and Chapel Fans, the group Beach Ability Ingoldmells Beach Wheelchairs was set up.
Being part of the volunteer, non-profit group allowed the youngster to brave the sea and to enjoy the lapping waves for the first time in his life while using a Hippocampe wheelchair.
An adorable video shows Joey laughing and smiling away while sitting in the wheelchair as the tide comes in.
His dad, Tom, 37, is also shown beaming with pride while looking at his son on the beach and looking out to sea.
Helen, 34, shared the video of Joey’s trip in a Facebook group later on that day, writing: “For anybody that lives with disabilities themselves or loved ones, if you ever go to Skegness or Ingoldmells please give Beach Ability Ingoldmells Beach Wheelchairs a try.
“My boy hated the beach until today. He has cerebral palsy with very bad sensory issues. He hates grass, sand, sun, snow, and even throws up when placed on a fluffy rug, bless him.
“But he loves water so much and although he can’t support his body enough to sit unaided, today he went in the sea for the first time at nearly three years old and honestly he has never laughed so much.
“This group has given so many people of all ages the chance to be ‘beside the seaside’ and I can’t thank them enough.
“It’s given my boy the chance to experience waves and Mother Nature’s beauty instead of feeling left out and different.”
Speaking today, Helen said: “He is unable to do anything for himself and has massive sensory issues.
“He doesn’t like certain textures, such as grass, sand, snow, and fluffy things, so we normally avoid the beach as he will make himself sick if he can’t process a feeling and he just ends up stuck in his pushchair far away from the sea.
“With him being unable to sit up it’s impossible to play with my other kids and have Joey be part of it until we hired the Hippocampe beach wheelchair from BeachAbility.
“It gave him the body support he needed, and it was so easy to push over the sand and of course go into the water. It was also a good barrier for him to not have to touch any sand.
“He was able to be just as happy and part of the day with his brother and sister, he loved watching the waves splashing over the top of the chair but still felt safe.
“I honestly can’t praise the group enough and wish there had been equipment like this available years ago as it would have helped so many people.”
Helen’s post has attracted over 22,000 likes and more than 1,600 comments from parents who loved seeing Joey so happy.
One said: “How fantastic. I love the look of pure joy on his face, I really do. Don’t you think that these should be available on every beach?”
Another wrote: “Oh my heart…so glad your little one enjoyed himself.
“We went to Weymouth a few weeks ago for our little holiday and managed to hire one. Made such a difference to the day.”
A third added: “How beautiful. My little girl has cerebral palsy also and sensory issues too with lots of other health conditions.
“We managed to get on the beach properly for the first time a few weeks ago, due to not being able to get very far with her wheelchair.
Helen Butterfield, 34, is a full-time carer for Joey and also looks after her other two children, Connor, 11, and Maisie, 8.
Helen said: “The children are amazing with Joey, they love him all the world and more.
“It’s been hard on them seeing Joey go through so much, Maisie especially, as she gets really frustrated when people stare at him because he is different.”
She added: “Joey was born so prematurely that he got scarring on the brain which caused his cerebral palsy.”
