Santa with bionic arm gets upgrade to lift heavy Santa sack

By Michael Lee Simpson

A US Navy veteran who became the first professional Santa in the world to get a bionic arm has got an upgrade - so he can pick up a full Santa sack of presents with ease.

This year marks Mike Tindall's, 67, 31st Christmas since his left forearm was amputated following a 1994 workshop accident.

But Tindall, from Memphis, Tennessee, hasn't let him held him back bringing holiday magic alongside wife Cindy, 67, - who plays Mrs. Claus - for the last two decades.

The role presented unique challenges for him, from handing out presents and accepting letters from children until he received a Hero Arm last year.

Made by Open Bionics, a British company, the Hero Arm is an advanced, 3D-printed multi-grip bionic arm designed for amputees as young as five years old.

But after a year of Santa use, Tindall needed something tougher and has got a new, advanced version - the Hero RGD - which now allows him to easily handle his Santa sack full of gifts.

Tindall said: “The movement is tremendously fast.

“I have had arms that were fragile or too heavy. This one is strong and light at the same time. It can handle anything, even a full Santa sack.

"I want kids to see that being different doesn’t hold you back.

“If I can help a kid feel proud of who they are, that’s what it’s all about.”

Tindall spent 22 years in the Navy, and after losing his hand in a workplace accident, he transformed his recovery into a mission to encourage others facing similar challenges.

For the past 20 years, he and his wife have portrayed Santa and Mrs. Claus professionally, traveling to schools, hospitals, and community centers.

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Last year, Tindall became the first U.S. veteran approved by the VA for the candy-cane red Hero Arm, a 3D-printed bionic prosthesis.

The arm was lightweight, customizable, and designed for everyday use — but after a year of heavy Santa-duty, Tindall found himself wanting something tougher.

That’s when Open Bionics invited him back to their Austin, Texas clinic to test and upgrade to the Hero RGD, the company’s newest model.

“The arm I got last year was great for what I needed, but I wanted a little more durability,” Tindall said. “It feels a lot more durable.”

The Hero RGD, developed with input from more than 1,000 amputees, is built to be the world’s strongest and fastest multi-grip bionic arm.

It features titanium joints, high-strength Nylon PA12, and brushless motors, giving it the ability to withstand everything from lifting a 77-pound sack of presents to bracing against the wind during a busy sleigh ride.

Its spring-loaded fingers can fully close in just 0.4 seconds, making it the fastest multi-grip bionic hand currently available.

Tindall said one of the most noticeable improvements is how the arm responds to user feedback — literally and figuratively.

“I was able to give feedback after a few weeks with my first Hero Arm, and now I see that feedback in the Hero RGD already,” he said.

“That shows me that Open Bionics really listens to the people who wear their arms.”

Another major upgrade is airflow, a crucial factor for someone who spends long hours inside a heavy red suit.

Traditional prosthetics can malfunction when sweat interferes with sensors, a problem Tindall faced regularly last year.

“Last year I had sweat rolling down inside the Santa suit,” he said.