Long Island five-year-old boy becomes youngest in the world to receive bionic 'Ironman' arm

A five-year-old boy from Long Island, New York, who was born without a left hand has become the youngest in the world to get a bionic Hero Arm, making him 'feel like a superhero'.

Jordan Marotta's mother Ashley, said the Iron Man-style arm, colored in red and gold just like his favorite superhero, was an 'instant confidence boost' for her son and he had rushed back to his school to show his friends.

The custom-made, 3D printed prosthetic is produced by Open Bionics who are based in Bristol, England, which was founded in 2014 and launched four clinics in America in the last year.

Jordan is the youngest ever owner of one of the firm's Hero Arms.

Jordan Marotta, 5, was born without a left hand and has become the youngest in the world to get a bionic Hero Arm, making him 'feel like a superhero'

Jordan Marotta could not wait to show his bionic arm to his schoolfriends, which has been made in the colors of his favorite superhero, Iron Man

The non-invasive prosthetic was molded to seamlessly attach and detach from where his left arm ends. 

The prosthetic, which takes about a month to make runs on a 14-hour, rechargeable battery and uses special sensors which detect muscular contractions and turn them into bionic hand movements.

Most children with Hero Arms are usually seven or above, but the firm said Jordan's size for his age and his high IQ – meaning it was easy to teach him how to use the Hero Arm – meant he could have one sooner.

The previous youngest Hero Arm user was a six-year-old from Los Angeles.

Several English children have received a Hero Arm at the age of seven – including Louie Morgan-Kemp, of Swavesey, Cambridgeshire.

Jordan is now able to grip his scooter with his new Hero Arm

At the age of five, Jordan has become the youngest person in the world to get a bionic Hero Arm

Jordan's mother had been following Open Bionics on Facebook and contacted the firm when they opened a clinic in New York. They travelled from their home in Dix Hills to Bionics' offices on Park Avenue.

The Hero Arm was paid for by the family's health insurance policy.

A clinical psychologist, Marotta, 38, said she was 'so grateful' to Open Bionics.

'Initially we were told he was too young and we convinced Open Bionics to see us and luckily he picked it up right away,' she said.

'As soon as we left with Jordan's Hero Arm, he was running around with so much confidence trying to hail New York taxis.

'It was an instant confidence boost; the Hero Arm really makes him feel like a superhero and he is superhero obsessed.

'He then wanted to rush back to his school to show his teachers and friends.

'He was so happy and so excited and so was everyone at his school.

'As a mom, you just want your child to be happy, and he is generally happy and resilient, but (after getting the Hero Arm) he was on top of the world and glowing.

The prosthetic uses special sensors which detect muscular contractions and turns them into bionic hand movements

British-based Open Bionics makes the Hero Arm and Jordan received his at the firm's clinic in New York. The non-invasive prosthetic was molded to seamlessly attach and detach from where his left arm ends

'He could not have been happier or more excited and he's the same today. It's amazing.'

Jordan had only used one different prosthetic before but stopped using it because of the lack of functionality.

Since getting his Hero Arm this week, he has been able to grab his scooter handles and go for a ride.

'He is so excited to use it and to be able to control the fingers and grab two objects now,' said mom-of-three Marotta, who found out her son would be born without his hand while 20 weeks pregnant.

'We're excited to see him get used to reaching with two hands and playing with his superhero toys with two hands.'

Jordan is say to be 'glowing' and 'full of confidence' having received his new arm

She said that she and Jordan's father, Josh, 42, who works in the family business, a dental laboratory, were 'blessed and the Hero Arm was covered by our insurance'.

Jordan had been upset in recent months and understands that he is different. 

'Recently, things have been a little bit more emotional, Jordan started to really understand and know he's different,' Marotta's said to the New York Post.

'There were plenty of times where he would sit there and ask me, "Mommy, how come my hand is not growing?"'

Daniel Green, the clinician who delivered the Hero Arm and training to Jordan at Open Bionics in New York, said it was a 'pleasure' to work with him and meet his family.

He said Jordan was 'very smart', had a 'great personality' and was 'really excited about his Hero Arm and couldn't wait to show his friends'.

Open Bionics is a British company delivering bionic hands and partial hand prosthetics globally for amputees.

It describes itself as the only company in the world making multi-articulating hands small and light enough for children as young as Jordan.

It is also the only company in the world able to produce bionic arms from the Marvel, Star Wars, and Disney films thanks to a long-term collaboration with The Walt Disney Company.

The firm has fitted amputees with Hero Arms in Ukraine, Germany, and Australia.

Samantha Payne, co-founder at Open Bionics, said: 'We're so happy for Jordan and can't wait to see how he puts his new Iron Man arm to work.'