Emeryville, CA. April 27, 2021: 

suitX is proud to announce that US Para-Equestrian, Beatrice de Lavalette has begun training with the Phoenix medical exoskeleton.

“When I ride, I’m a normal rider again. My horse does the ‘legwork’ but then I have to get back in my wheelchair. Now I will be able to just slip back into my exoskeleton and stand up. This is HUGE,” Beatrice exclaimed. 

“Anyone who has become bound to a wheelchair knows how amazing this is,” says Beatrice. “I can walk again! That’s just the most incredible thing that could happen and I can’t thank the team at suitX enough for developing this exoskeleton. It’s super lightweight and is so easy to use.” 

Beatrice de Lavalette wearing the suitX Phoenix medical exoskeleton. 

Training is being facilitated by Fyzical Therapy and Balance Center of Lake Worth, Florida, near Beatrice’s home and training center. 

Beatrice is the most critically injured survivor of the terrorist bombing at the Brussels International Airport in March 2016. Beatrice was 17 years old at the time; she suffered multiple internal injuries, second and third degree burns on 35% of her body, suffered bilateral below knee amputations, and suffers from paralysis from the hips down. Beatrice is the first double amputee to use SuitX’s Phoenix medical exoskeleton. She is currently living and training with her horses in Loxahatchee, FL., and she hopes to secure a spot on the US Paralympic Team for Tokyo. 

For more information contact info@suitx.com

Beatrice de Lavalette competing with Clarc at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, Fl, January 2021, in the FEI CPEDI*** for Grade 2 para-equestrians. (Phone credit: Susan Stickle)