A FORMER demolition worker paralysed in a roof fall could become the first person in Britain to undergo revolutionary 'bionic' surgery to help him walk again.

Anthony Knappett, 25, a champion wheelchair tennis player, is being prepared for the pioneering 10-hour operation which involves an electronic device being fitted into his body to stimulate nerves.

He lost the use of his legs after falling 20ft through the roof while stripping tiles at East Lancashire Coach Builders in Whalley New Road, Blackburn, in April 1997.

At the time, the former Ribblesdale Secondary School pupil was working for Ashworth Demolition, Clitheroe, and lived in Hapton Road, Padiham. He had previously lived with his sister, Mandy Brown, in Nelson.

Anthony, who now lives in Gisburn Road, Blacko, Pendle, returned from California yesterday where he reached the quarter finals of the disabled version of the US Tennis Open in California. He said: "I really don't know at this stage whether I will go ahead with the operation. It all depends how things go with the experiments in Europe because I want to know exactly how it will affect me before I make a decision. I think it will be at least six months before this becomes clear.

"My main concern would be how the rehabilitation would affect my life. It's two years since the accident now and I'm always busy.

"It didn't take me long to realise that being in a wheelchair doesn't stop you from doing exactly what you want."

Doctors in France have already carried out a similar operation and it will be known within the next ten days if the 38-year-old paraplegic patient involved can walk unaided.

A team based at the Spinal Injuries Centre at Southport Hospital is on stand-by to give Anthony the same chance if the experiment proves a success.

His parents Sandra and Ralph live in Mill Lane, Great Harwood. Sandra said: "We left the decision about the operation entirely to Anthony. Nobody knows how it will go, so we have tried not to build up too much hope.

"We are really proud of how well he has picked himself up after the accident. He'll have a go at any sport and even did a parachute jump recently."

Post-operation rehabilitation is expected to last up to 40 weeks, but experts say it is likely he would be walking within a month.

By pressing buttons on a stick or walking frame, he would be able to send signals, via a processing unit and power pack attached to his belt, to the stimulator.

There is a function for walking up and downstairs and running might even be possible.

The initiative, funded by £2million of European cash, has taken 10 years to get to this stage and it could restore walking ability in up to 10 per cent of the UK's estimated 30,000 paraplegics.

Sandra added: "All we can do now is wait for the results of the French operation and take it from there."

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