Gert-Jan Oskam is a 40-year-old Dutch man who was paralysed in a cycling accident 12 years ago.

The electronic implants wirelessly transmit his thoughts to his legs and feet via a second implant on his spine. Although, the system is still at an experimental stage but a leading UK spinal charity called it "very encouraging".

Mr Oskam told the BBC that he feels like a toddler who is learning to walk again, and he can also now stand and climb. He also said that it is a pleasure that many people don't realise.

The operation to restore Gert-Jan's movement was carried out in July 2021. The development was led by Swiss researchers. Prof Jocelyne Bloch, of Lausanne University, who is the neurosurgeon who carried out the delicate surgery to insert the implants, stressed that the system was still at a basic research stage and was many years away from being available to paralysed patients.

Prof Bloch cut two circular holes on each side of his skull, 5cm in diameter, above the regions of the brain involved in controlling movement. She then inserted two disc-shaped implants which wirelessly transmit brain signals - Gert-Jan's intentions - to two sensors attached to a helmet on his head.

The brain implants build on Prof Courtine's earlier work, when only the spinal implant was used to restore movement. The spinal implant amplified weak signals from the brain to the damaged part of the spinal column and was boosted further by pre-programmed signals from a computer.