The memoirs, entitled On My Own Two Feet: From Losing My Legs to Learning the Dance of Life, tells the story of the 35-year-old losing both her legs aged 19 after contracting meningococcal meningitis, a vaccine preventable bacterial infection.

At one point, she was given less than a two per cent chance of survival, before receiving a kidney donated by her father shortly before her 21st birthday.

Purdy has since gone from strength to strength, featuring in a range of differing projects, including a Madonna music video and the 2005 film What's Buggin Seth, where she performed a lead actress role.

A keen snowboarder before her illness, she returned to the sport after receiving funding to purchase specially adapted athletic-legs, reportedly making her the first double-amputee to participate in the sport.

After a bronze medal at the New Zealand Winter Games in 2011, she capitalised on the sport's inclusion on the Paralympic programme for the first time at Sochi 2014, winning a snowboard cross bronze behind The Netherlands' Bibian Mentel-Spee and Cecile Hernandez Cervellon of France. 

Amy Purdy's book chronicles her recovery from the life-threatening illness
©On my own two feet


Just three days later, she was competing in the first edition of United States television programme Dancing with the Stars, eventually finishing runner-up and becoming a major icon in her home country.

Purdy, now considered one of the most marketable Paralympians world-wide, is also in the process of releasing a clothing line in partnership with US brand, Element Eden. 

Together with her boyfriend, she also co-founded Adaptive Action Sports, a charity that provides training and opportunities for disabled snowboarders, skateboarders, rock climbers and motor racing drivers.

Purdy's autobiography can be purchased via the insidethegames shop here. 

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