Underwater On A Wheelchair

Cultural Olympiad artist creates world's first self-propelled underwater wheelchair so she can perform under the waves

• An artist will perform swimming pool acrobatics in an underwater wheelchair this week as part of the Cultural Olympiad celebrations.

Sue Austin, from Devon, has been wheelchair-bound since 1996 after contracting ME and has invented and helped create the world's first self-propelled underwater wheelchair with a team of diving experts. 

In the lead up to the Paralympic Games Ms Austin has staged a series of stunning underwater scuba performances called 'Creating the Spectacle!' to show off her underwater art.

Scroll down to see a video of the chair in action

Sue Austin has created a self-propelled wheelchair that she will use as part of the Cultural Olympiad

Ms Austin said she is thrilled to be part of something 'new and exciting' like this

She will use it in a series of choreographed acrobatic underwater events as part of the London 2012 Festival

Ms Austin has been wheelchair-bound since 1996 and has worked on the chair with a team of diving experts

'Creating the Spectacle!' is part of the Cultural Olympiad celebrations and will demonstrate the incredible capabilities of the modified NHS wheelchair by weaving shapes deep in the ocean.

The chair is equipped with swimming floats, fins and two foot-controlled drive propulsion vehicles.

Ms Austin said: 'I'm thrilled that lots of people have been inspired by the project already, many of them telling me how seeing the wheelchair underwater has made them want to try it too.
'We've created something new and exciting and it's really getting people talking.
'As a result, they're realising that viewing the world from a different perspective inspires them to be free to explore new experiences.'

In the lead up to the Paralympic Games Ms Austin has staged a series of stunning underwater scuba performances

Her work is called 'Creating the Spectacle!' and is part of an Arts Council England commission

The piece is part of the council's Unlimited programme delivered in partnership between London 2012 to support deaf and disabled artists