A world champion surfer from Cornwall is hoping to become the Duchy's very own Bionic Man. >Bruno Hansen, from Truro, was paralysed 17 years ago but has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise not millions of pounds, but £70,000 to buy some bionic legs which will transform his life.

Bruno feels like his dream of walking again after a car accident in South Africa left him paralysed is one step closer.

I can only imagine what it's like to use these bionic legs for a few hours of the day - and to be able to be around people and have a conversation at the same eye level. Bruno Hansen

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Bruno was a fit healthy and athletic man before the car accident. Breaking his back sapped not only his physical ability but his mental strength too.

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So Bruno vowed to live his life to the fullest. His love of the water and fearless nature took him back on a surf board and last year he was invited to enter the Surfing Para-World Championships.

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Without much training, the backing of a fully funded team of physios or even his own surf board, he went on and won the competition.>But his aim has always been to walk again and technology has developed so much in the last 17 years, it looks like it might be possible.

£70,000 target Bruno wants to raise

Friends set up a crowdfunding platform to raise the £70,000 needed to buy the amazing ironman like legs.It's already gone viral. >Under the hashtag Bionic Bruno, they've raised £20,000 in a week.

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As part of the funding campaign, Bruno leaves today with two fellow wheelchair users for a sailing race from Seattle to Alaska. A champion, that's defied the odds.