AMPUTEES at an Oxford hospital are enjoying keeping ‘Wii Fit’ thanks to the generosity of World Cup rugby star Andy Gomarsall.

Mr Gomarsall, originally from Bicester, is one of three people who have donated Wii Fit machines and flatscreen TVs to the Oxford Centre for Enablement at the Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Headington.

The ex-England player, who started his career with Bicester Rugby Club but currently plays for Leeds RUFC, has a long-standing connection with the NOC.

He is president of the hospital’s League of Friends and in 2008 officially opened the children’s outpatient play area. The centre already has a Wii machine and a flat screen TV which were donated by patients.

The OCE provides specialist rehabilitation services for amputees or patients with complex neurological and neuro-muscular conditions.

And now the Wii Fit is being used by patients as part of their physiotherapy sessions.

Jon Martin, from Buckingham, had his leg amputated below the knee following a car crash three years ago.

He is using a Wii program which focuses on balance and requires him to shift his weight across the Wii Fit board to slot balls into holes on the screen.

Mr Martin said: “It’s been interesting trying out the Wii Fit and I can see how useful patients will find it as part of their rehabilitation programme.”

Lucy Holt, Senior Prosthetics Phyiostherapist at OCE said: “We are extremely grateful to Andy Gomarsall for donating this machine.

“It is proving a useful addition to our rehabilitation physio- therapy programme which helps a range of patients who suffer from conditions such as stroke or loss of limb.

“We have seen a vast improvement in some of our patients who also have a Wii Fit machine at home.

“By using this machine as part of physiotherapy sessions really helps to improve the mobility and strength in our patients and is a bit of fun too.

“We are extremely grateful to Andy Gomarsall and the two former patients of OCE for donating the equipment.”