A “bionic” politician whose limbs were amputated following a life-threatening illness has raised thousands of pounds for charity by going on a zip wire.

Lord Mackinlay became known as the bionic MP after receiving prosthetic feet and hands when sepsis caused his limbs to turn black. His legs were amputated up to the knees and his arms up to the elbow.

He received a rare standing ovation in the House of Commons when he returned to Parliament last year and is now a member of the House of Lords.

On Tuesday, he became the first Lord to try the St Andrews Lake zip wire experience in the North Downs, Kent.

Lord Mackinlay raised more than £2,400 for the UK Sepsis Trust and hopes to raise awareness of the condition, which affects 245,000 people in the UK each year. While some suffer minor symptoms, there are 48,000 sepsis-related deaths every year.

He told BBC Radio Kent: “I’m now in the House of Lords, which was a lovely thing for the former prime minister to do, and gives me a say in the political game.

“Day-to-day is okay. I did 9,000 steps on Monday, but the hands are a bit more difficult.

“They make me feel whole again. They look like real hands and I feel like a human being again.

“My daughter, who is coming up to six years old, puts my legs on and helps me out too.”