Key facts
- A 13-year-old boy nicknamed Apei from Sichuan province, China, has gone viral for his basketball skills.
- He uses a wooden crutch, handmade by his father, to play.
- Apei lost his right leg at age four after a rockslide.
- He received a custom-made prosthetic leg on June 5, donated by the Shenzhen Project Care Foundation.
- Apei lives in one of China's most impoverished regions.
A 13-year-old boy from a mountainous village in China's impoverished Sichuan province, known as Apei, has captured viral attention for his exceptional basketball skills while using a wooden crutch made by his father. The story, first shared in late May, garnered significant social media engagement. Apei lost his right leg at the age of four due to a rockslide. Initially, other children were hesitant to play with him, but he found solace and skill in basketball. His father's handmade crutch allows him to move freely on the court. On June 5, Apei received a custom-made prosthetic leg, donated by the Shenzhen Project Care Foundation, marking a significant step in his journey.