Philippe Croizon, a French quadruple amputee who is most known for swimming across the English Channel, had his wheelchair stolen and is hoping that by spreading the world, the culprits will be found.
“They haven’t just stolen my wheelchair, they’ve stolen my independence,” he said to French media outlets.
Since losing all his limbs in an electrical accident in 1994, Croizon had been a competitive swimmer using special flippers. He became the first quadruple amputee to swim across the English Channel in 2010.
The 45-year old was on vacation in France when the wheelchair was stolen. It was a specially designed model which was partly paid for by Croizon’s family, although he didn’t know its exact value and what it would cost to replace.
“I don’t know if these people realise what they did,” he said. “Without it, I am nothing.”