British Paralympian candidate for European Space Agency's first disabled astronaut

By Aysu Bicer

ANKARA (AA) - A British Paralympian could become the European Space Agency's (ESA) first disabled astronaut, the agency said Wednesday.

The ESA announced those selected for its 2022 astronaut training program at a news conference in Paris.

John McFall, a 41-year-old Paralympic sprinter who represented the UK at the Paralympic Games, lost his right leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 19.

McFall is a candidate and the ESA said he will work with designers and engineers to decide if he will participate in training programs and head to space.

McFall was among the more than 22,500 applicants to the ESA -- nearly 200 were disabled.

No major Western space agency has ever put a "para-astronaut" in space, according to the ESA.

He will be one of four to six people chosen as Europe's next astronauts in addition to a reserve team of about 20.

The finalists have undergone intensive screening in the past year.