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Ismail Zulfic, a six-year-old boy who’s born without arms and a congenital defect, wished to swim in the water and play with his friends.
Ismail and his parents, who lives in Sarajevo, Bosnia, drove for 50 miles for him to take his swimming lessons three times a week. Swim instructors used a noodle and wrapped it around Ismail to be able to float in the water.
Chris Shore, a 28-year-old swim coach and inventor, saw a video of the disabled boy paddling through an Olympic-sized pool with just the noodle around him. Shore then sent his newly-invented floatation device, Aquaplane, to Ismail.
The idea behind Aquaplane sprouted when Shore discovered that armbands and buoyancy aids limit the mobility of the kids learning how to swim.
Shore was aware that Ismail couldn’t get access to an effective and affordable swimming equipment, and Shore didn’t hesitate to offer his invention.
Shore told SWNS, “We sent an Aquaplane over to Ismail completely free after seeing a video of him learning to swim with a noodle, which we were certain that Aquaplane would vastly improve his swimming ability.”
Shore was ecstatic to see Ismail enjoying the Aquaplane. It made him feel purposeful to see the boy swimming in the water.
He continued, “Ismail’s happiness in the pool with the Aquaplane is an added bonus due to his disability, making it even more rewarding for myself as a swim teacher come inventor.”
“Its design helps him to achieve an optimum swimming position which is giving him lots of confidence.”
Ismet Zulfic, Ismail’s dad, felt the same thing as what Shore did when Ismail started swimming with the Aquaplane. He said that his son can now swim faster and better.
Ismet said, “I can’t even explain to you Ismail’s reaction when he saw his Aquaplane. It has made him faster than before, which makes him so happy.”
Shore, who’s also an Olympian and a Commonwealth Games gold medalist, recommends Aquaplane at his own swim school.
