Amputee farmer receives new super advanced bionic arm

By Tom Bevan

A farmer who lost his arm in a harvester accident has become the first NHS patient to be fitted with the world's most advanced bionic limb.

Ashley Herbert was just 24 when his right hand got caught in a forage harvester and couldn't be saved.

He's since spent more than a decade struggling to fulfil everyday tasks on the farm and at home with prosthetics that were either too heavy or uncomfortable.

But he said he now feels like he's "got his life back" after becoming the first NHS patient fitted with the Hero PRO, the most advanced multi-grip bionic arm in the world.

Now 35, Ashley began his NHS trial late last year with the Hero Arm, the latest generation bionic arm from Open Bionics, testing it alongside other prosthetic solutions.

Ashley, of Carlisle, said: "As soon as I tried it, I knew this was perfect. The grip is so much stronger.

"I can pick up everything from a ping pong ball to a piece of paper on a table, to pushing a supermarket trolley.

"I can enjoy a pint down the pub with friends, and I can use my spanner and tools on the farm with confidence."

Ashley was on a farm at Cliburn near Penrith when his hand became caught in the machine. He was rushed to hospital by air ambulance for emergency surgery.

He had lost his right hand ‘at the wrist’.

Just three months after his amputation, Ashley started to use 'big claw' prosthetics, but said he struggled with everyday tasks.

He added: "Twelve weeks after surgery I was fitted with a big claw prosthesis, which was great for heavy-duty farm work but not practical day to day.

"I even got kicked out of nightclubs because bouncers wouldn’t let me in with a metal claw. Hero PRO is completely different—it’s something I can wear out socially with ease, whether that’s to stag dos, shopping, or just down the pub.

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“I tried different arms, but they were either too heavy or just far too uncomfortable.

“No matter how much adjusting was done, nothing compared to the comfort of the Hero Arm. Comfort was the deciding factor for me.”

When Hero PRO launched, Ashley was given the chance to trial it for the final three months of his NHS program.

Ashley says the device fits his lifestyle on and off the farm.

He added: "I’ve been an amputee for 11 years, and I’ve spent that whole time waiting for the right prosthesis.

"I didn’t mind waiting a few months for Hero PRO because it’s worth it.

"The reactions I get are amazing—my friends and family think it’s incredible. The bonus is the hand just clips out, which means in the future I’ll be able to swap it for a cycling attachment.

"I’m a keen long-distance cyclist—I’ve done 600 kilometers in a day and a half—so I’m really looking forward to trying the biking attachment with a socket I already love that keeps me cool, and seeing how far I can push myself.”

Reflecting on his journey, Ashley said: “Since my amputation, my outlook has shifted for the better. I’ve learned to prioritize what’s important and value life, family, and friends on a whole new level."

The Hero PRO, launched earlier this year, is the next-generation bionic arm from Open Bionics, a Bristol-based robotics company.

It is designed for "real-life performance and comfort" featuring world-first technology such as wireless connectivity, waterproofing, enhanced wrist rotation with flexion, improved dexterity, and unmatched speed.

Samantha Payne, MBE, Co-founder of Open Bionics, said: “It’s fantastic to see the NHS champion patient choice by adopting advanced bionic technology like Hero PRO through real-world trials.

"When clinicians and patients evaluate comfort, function, durability, and access together, outcomes improve—and lives change.

"Ashley’s story shows how evidence-based procurement can deliver cutting-edge prosthetics to the people who need them most, on the pathways that already serve them.”