When Laurent Chardard surfs it’s with a wetsuit. But not on Saturday due to particularly warm water off the Porge. Bad idea, on the first wave, the arm strap came off.
“My prosthesis fell outhe explains, I tried to catch her with my hand. I tried to search underwater. In vain.“
The Pessacais quickly launched an appeal on social networks, a message relayed by the surfer community. But no news for now. “The tidal coefficients are small so there is not much water movement. But by the end of August the tidal coefficients will increase, the water will certainly recede at low tide and that’s when we’ll be able to find it again. Logically it should be in good condition because it is made of stainless materials. I can reuse it if found. We never know.“
Amputated with a leg and an arm after being attacked by a shark in 2016 in Reunion where he is from, Laurent Chardard fell back on a replacement prosthesis, much less efficient. If it does not bother him for the swimming training he does without, it is more annoying in his daily life since this prosthesis allowed him, for example, to carry bags. So if the object does not wash up on the beach, he will have to make up his mind to make another one.
“What is called the socket, the part that is on my arm, is covered by social security. And the prosthetic part, I made itexplains the trained engineer. So it’s time and investment but financially it’s not a problem.”
Crowned world champion in the 50-meter butterfly in June, the young man hopes to be able to compete in the world championships next summer which will qualify for the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.