Talai's story

The story of Alexeij Talai began with the old ammunition from the Second World War that did not explode but waited for many years. Alexeij lost his legs and arms (one arm fully and one below the elbow). Alex extinguished a fire that the local children had made. The old war ammunition got into this fire and exploded.

Alexeij miraculously survived, but after this accident a completely different life began. Surgery, rehabilitation and acceptance of the new way of life. Years later Alexeij became a master of sports in swimming, a member of the paralympic national team of Belarus and in 2010 was awarded the title of black belt in taekwondo in the United States.

Photos by Pavel Volkov