Beach wheelchairs have become more frequently sighted on WA beaches, thanks to local Councils and community groups becoming more proactive with disability inclusion.

Beach wheelchairs enable people who have mobility limitations to enjoy a day at the beach with family and friends.

Many councils have started to provide a beach wheelchair free of charge on a short term loan. However, there are just not enough of them available, especially during summer. Often they are available on a first come, first served basis, although in some locations they can be reserved in advance.

These are some councils in Western Australia that provide a beach wheelchair for hire.

Town of Cottesloe
City of South Perth
City of Fremantle
City of Cockburn
City of Joondalup
City of Rockingham
City of Mandurah
City of Busselton
Shire of Broome
Shire of Denmark

What is a beach wheelchair?

Most wheelchair users know that getting stuck in sand is not an enjoyable experience.

A beach wheelchair is designed for use in outdoor environments and specifically for use on sand and in or near salt water. Most beach wheelchairs are push wheelchairs or manual wheelchairs and made of waterproof material so that all parts of the beach wheelchair can get in contact with salty sea water without any problems.

Most beach wheelchairs are equipped with large balloon-type tires for rolling across sand and other loose surfaces. These tires are made of anticorrosive and waterproof materials, so that they can last for many years going in and out salty water. Many models have at least two big back wheels and one or two in the front.

Enjoying the sun, the sand and the sea with Platypus the beach wheelchair.

At Unicare Health, we often get asked to review equipment and today we’re sharing our views on the Platypus Beach and All Terrain Wheelchair, an Australian made wheelchair by Para Mobility.

What we like about the Platypus beach wheelchair.

The Platypus Beach and All Terrain Wheelchair is easy to manoeuvre on different terrains such as sand and gravel. It’s 68cm width makes it easy to enter standard doorways and will get you easily into change rooms during your day at the beach. Swing away arms makes it easy for transfers.

The Platypus is made of a rigid plastic frame and other corrosion resistant materials. The frame does not get hot in the sun like others that are made of stainless steel.  The open weave fabric facilitates air and water flow and dries easy on a warm day. The Platypus uses oversized WheelEEZ® wheels, a leading high-quality brand of balloon wheels. These WheelEEZ wheels are attached with a quick release mechanism without the need for axle pins that often get lost. When disassembled, no components weigh more than 13kg, making it easy to handle and pack away in your car.

If you are considering this beach wheelchair for a child, a child adaptor enables the chair to be used by children.

Potential limitations

While the Platypus Beach and All Terrain Wheelchair  has many advantages, it’s safe working load of 120kg and fixed seat width makes it unsuitable for a range of bariatric patients. The leg rests are at a fixed height, which might be a concern for some.

The Platypus does not have attached flotation devices to keep it afloat in water. It does not allow you to enter the sea full bodied with the possibility of getting off for a swim while keeping afloat waiting for you to come back. Its use on the beach is limited to sand and water at knee height.

The Platypus requires a caregivers assistance to push.  It will not suit you if you prefer the freedom to move autonomously.

Please click here for pricing and detailed pictures of the Platypus Beach and All Terrain Wheelchair .

Posted on 22 March 2018