AN inspirational paraplegic athlete is breaking new ground by becoming the first quadruple amputee in the UK to become a snowboarder.

Ellie May Challis is a two-time British record holder in breaststroke and was awarded the inspirational youth award at the prestigious Pride of Essex Awards earlier this year.

She has taken up snowboarding so she can go on a special holiday this spring, with her sister, Tai’la, 19.

With the help of Disability Snowsport UK instructors James Sterry and James Merrey, and Darren Swift — a former soldier who, like Ellie has bilateral above-knee amputations — Ellie is learning the basics ready for the trip to Andorra.

Ellie, 14, from Little Clacton, said: “I’m really excited to go on holiday with my sister and I’m really enjoying learning how to snowboard.

“I’ve wanted to do it for a long time so it’s brilliant to finally get practising.

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“So far I’ve fallen over a lot but I think that’s pretty normal for everyone who learns.

“It’s a steep learning curve with snowboarding but once I get over the curve I’ll be able to do loads.

“I’m learning my turns and I’m going further on each run.

“I’m totally ready for my holiday, and this is definitely not a one-off, I want to go on more trips.”

Ellie lost all four limbs - her legs above the knee and her arms just below her elbow - when she was just 16-months-old.

But her disabilities have not stopped her doing whatever she wants.

Dad Paul said: “She’s never once said ‘Why me?’

“She’s always been so positive and is so much more active than most able-bodied people are.

“She works with what she has, takes on everything with a smile, and she does an amazing job.”

He added: “We all hope she has a brilliant time, she’s wanted to do this for a while now and it’s never quite been possible until now.”

In order to help her hit the slopes, she’s been fitted with special prosthetic ‘stubbies’ which connect directly to the snowboard.

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They were created by the team at Dorset Orthopaedic in Ringwood, where she’s been a patient since she was three-years-old.

Clinical services director Matt Hughes, who is Ellie’s main prosthetist, said: “Ellie has always been so determined to do whatever she puts her mind to, so when she said she planned to go on a skiing and snowboarding trip with her sister, we were not surprised at all.

“We were delighted to help her achieve her goal and become a UK first, maybe even a world first with her level of amputation, and we hope she has an incredible time.”

Mark Kelvin, chief executive of Disability Snowsport UK, added: “It’s great to see Ellie demonstrating that the only thing preventing somebody from getting on the slopes, is their own belief

“ I’ve no doubt that Ellie will have an amazing time.”