Winter: Prosthetic Tail Helps Baby Dolphin Swim Again

After Winter’s tail became entangled in a crab trap in 2005, two Hanger Clinic prosthetic experts stepped in to create a prosthetic tail, restoring her ability to swim. The real life survival story of Winter and her innovative prosthetic team, Sarasota-based prosthetist Dan Strzempka and Orlando-based Kevin Carroll, inspired the 2011 hit movie, “DolphinTale,” starring Morgan Freeman, Ashley Judd, and Harry Connick, Jr.

In December 2005, a three-month-old bottlenose dolphin found herself tangled in the ropes of a crab trap near Cape Canaveral, Florida. Fortunately, fisherman Jim Savage heard her cry and was able to free the little dolphin from the rope that was wrapped tightly around her tail and mouth. After making some calls, a rescue team came to help and she was taken to the Florida Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). The team at CMA worked night and day to help Winter recover from the injuries, and she began to make steady improvement. However, her tail was badly damaged and as the team feared, she lost her tail.

In 2006, Kevin Carroll, an expert prosthetist and Vice President of Lower Extremity Prosthetics at Hanger Clinic heard her story and offered to fit her with an artificial tail.

Making Winter’s Prosthesis

It took about 18 months for Carroll and Hanger Clinic’s Sarasota Area Clinic Manager Dan Strzempka to develop the new tail for Winter. It was more difficult than Carroll originally anticipated. “When we fit a socket on a person, we have one long, solid bone, and the socket isn’t moving in every direction. With a dolphin, it needs to move along with her full spine.” One of the biggest challenges they faced was figuring out how to keep the tail on while she thrust 10 feet into the air.

The unique levels of R&D necessary to fit a prosthetic tail on a dolphin resulted in the development of a gel liner, called WintersGel, which is now benefiting human patients. Constructed of a very soft silicone-type material, WintersGel Prosthetic Liners provide a skin friendly, cushioning and more comfortable fit, especially for those with skin concerns. With the help of WintersGel, Winter’s new tail sticks to her body using suction, just like a surgical glove grips to a human hand, without irritating her delicate skin.

Winter’s Story Inspires Millions

Winter’s story has been featured on national television and new​s programs where she has touched the hearts of many. Her story of determination, encouragement and perseverance has been captured in the Scholastic book, Winter’s Tail: How One Little Dolphin Learned to Swim Again and a Nintendo DS video game, also called Winter’s Tail. Her hit movie, “DolphinTale,” premiered in September 2011.

For more information on Winter, visit SeeWinter.com.