US Wheelchair athlete performs daredevil tricks and stunts at skate park

M/S Aaron Fotheringham takes wheelchair from boot of his vehicle at skate park in Las Vegas
M/S Fotheringham sits in wheelchair, throws crutch into the back of the pickup
M/S Fotheringham fetches helmet
M/S Fotheringham rolls onto skate park
M/S Fotheringham applying helmet and rolling off
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts at skate park
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts
SOT, Aaron Fotheringham, Extreme wheelchair athlete: "I was born with spina bifida which would end up limiting the use of my legs, it's something to do with like the way the spine develops during birth and stuff, and it's pretty much all I know, just knew it was kind of part of who I am and to this day I've had 23 surgeries because of the spina bifida and I get to ride this wheelchair everywhere."
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts
SOT, Aaron Fotheringham, Extreme wheelchair athlete: "At first I used crutches and I had fun messing around with the crutches but they were a little bit too painful for me to get around on, so I started using the wheelchair full time at about the age of 8, and the wheelchair to me was just fun, it was just, it was a relief because honestly walking kind of sucks for me and so being able to use the wheelchair full time was a lot more fun, a lot faster and to me it was just like an accessory, like a skateboard is to a skater, a bike is to a biker, it was just like, you know, it was just fun and so when I first dropped into a skate park at the age of eight and after a couple of spills I rolled away from it and it was really that moment that really opened my eyes to like, wow, like this is [a] match made in heaven, you know."
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts *CUTAWAY*
SOT, Aaron Fotheringham, Extreme wheelchair athlete: "I've been extremely lucky to be able to make a living doing what I do, I never thought my wheelchair would pay the bills but it's been cool, to you know, to see like over the years from when I first started to now, I've been able to pick up some sponsorships and to be able to do appearances and my social media following has grown, on Instagram I have 516k and just keeps going up, you know, and it's been really cool to feel that kind of support, you know the community of it."
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts
SOT, Aaron Fotheringham, Extreme wheelchair athlete: "It's been really cool to be in a position where I get to be a role model, no pun intended, to others with disabilities and are on wheelchairs, it's a lot of pressure and sometimes I think you know like, I don't get it because I'm just out at the park having fun but it's really cool to be able to have an impact."
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts
W/S Fotheringham performing stunts
W/S Fotheringham
W/S Skate park
M/S Sign outside skate park
SCRIPT
Aaron 'Wheelz' Fotheringham has endured over 23 surgeries after spina bifida left him with limited use of his legs but he hasn't let this get in the way of becoming a record-setting wheelchair athlete with fans all round the world.
Footage shows Fotheringham performing various tricks at a skate park in Las Vegas, on Monday.
Fotheringham describes his first visit to a skate park in his chair at eight as a "match made in heaven."
"It's been really cool to be in a position where I get to be a role model, no pun intended, to others with disabilities and are on wheelchairs," he added.
Fotheringham is the first person to successfully perform a backflip in a wheelchair at the age of 14, and a double backflip at the age of 18. He performs many other tricks in his wheelchair including 180 degree 'aerials', one-wheeled spins and rail grinds, and is a three-time Wheelchair Motocross champion.