A BOY paralysed from birth could be "set free" with the help of a Russian spacesuit.

Shea French-Gibbens' family are raising cash to send the youngster to a pioneering paralysis centre in Poland.

Seven-year-old Shea was born with cerebral palsy and has been a quadriplegic from birth.

But he has no mental disabilities and if his limbs were to work, he could lead an independent life.

Pioneering therapy in Poland, using the Russian Adeli spacesuit, could change this.

Shea's father Mick Gibbens, of Elibank Road, Eltham, found out about the centre on the internet.

He says medical chiefs in this country were dismissive of eastern European "quack" practices.

And the 46-year-old admits he was a "bit dubious at first" but says he could not find anyone who says it does not work.

Shea, who attends Horn Park Primary School, Alnwick Road, Lee, has had two four-week sessions in Mielno, north-west Poland, during last April and September.

Mr Gibbens says his son could sit up unaided for longer periods of time and a school corridor which took him 20 minutes to walk with assistance took seven minutes after his first therapy treatment.

With a year's worth of further treatment, possibly three more four-week sessions, Shea could walk unaided with crutches and lead an independent life.

Mr Gibbens says independence would mean everything to Shea and he remembers when his son was given an electric wheelchair.

The database analyst said: "The first thing he did was zoom over to touch the telly and when I asked him why, he said he'd always wanted to do it but sat there all those years without saying so.

"And it meant so much to him when his two brothers were called for tea and he could come to."

He added: "It would be amazing if he could walk, he would be set free."

The treatment costs £5,000 plus flights and accommodation and the family are already paying £150 for physio sessions in this country and a sling to help his arm grow properly.

His family are holding fundraising events to raise money, including a 10,000ft skydive by his uncle, John Gibbens, 43, from St Paul's Cray.

l For more information, call 01689 885716.

Galactic garments

  • The suit was developed in 1971 by the Russian Centre for Aeronautical and Space Medicine.
  • It has been used by international rehabilitation clinic Euromed since 1992, to treat people with paralysis.
  • The centre in Poland has treated 2,000 people since it was founded in 1994.
  • The suit holds the body in an upright position and was used to train people to walk in space. By adding increasingly heavy weights, it will strengthen Shea's muscles and train his body to walk.