Teenage wheelchair stuntman nails world's first double backflip (after a few painful fails)
Mon, 09/06/2010 - 09:06 — jason
Daredevil teenager Aaron Fotheringham has just made history by completing the first double back flip - in a wheelchair.
After months of practice and painful attempts - and one broken wheelchair - Aaron nailed the dangerous stunt for the first time on August 26.
'I feel so happy to have finally done it,' said the 18-year-old, who goes by the name of aka Wheelz.
Record books: After a number of painful attempts, Aaron 'Wheelz' Fotheringham successfully completed a double backflip in his chair
Scroll down to see Aaron's double backflip attempts
The stunt, performed in Woodward, Pennsylvania, involved Aaron being propelled at high speeds from a bungee cord onto a ramp. He then used his immense upper body strength to make the double spin before landing hard back on his wheels.
Aaron called his mum, Kayleen, soon afterwards to tell her the good news.
Reluctant support: Aarons' mother Kayleen says she's not a big fan of his failed attempts
'She was really pleased,' he said. 'She worries about me getting hurt but I've been doing this since I was a kid so she knows she can't really stop me. It's what I love to do.'
Mrs Fotheringham, 51, said: 'I'm very proud of him but I do find it hard to watch when he falls.'
Aaron was born with spina bifida but refused to be classified as 'disabled'.
A self-confessed adrenaline junkie, he spent most of his childhood at the local skate park in his hometown of Los Vegas, Nevada.
He said: 'I'd practice all the same tricks and stunts as my friends but on my chair.
'I grew to like my chair because it was like having a skateboard with me all the time.'
After his first as-yet undefeated world record, Aaron shot to fame.
Aaron is currently on a world tour for the American TV show Nitro Circus, where stuntman Travis Pastrana and his friends perform nail-biting stunts in different countries.
In news that will trouble his mother, Aaron said: 'The next stunt I want to do is a front flip and then a double front flip I'm not going to stop. There will always be another stunt to try.'
