Latest news with #BasilKennedy
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Dad's hideous final days as flesh-eating bug devoured his leg
Basil Kennedy, 77, from New Orleans, was getting ready to launch his boat into the Mississippi waters when he cut his leg on the trailer A dad has died from a terrifying flesh-eating bacteria - as cases of the rare disease continue to rise. Basil Kennedy, 77, was getting ready to launch his boat into the water when he cut his leg on the trailer. He immediately cleaned the wound using hydrogen peroxide and covered it with a plaster. But just three days later, he developed a rare infection and was taken to hospital with a high temperature, vomiting, and elevated levels of lactic acid - a warning sign of sepsis. It comes after the deadly Oropouche virus has been found in the UK for the first time after sweeping Europe. 'His leg started to slowly swell,' daughter Kay Kennedy said. 'Then, it became a little bit red, and it was like, 'OK, something's not right here.' But then, once it really took hold in the leg, I mean we were just watching it swell, blister, fluid – everything you expect from the flesh-eating bacteria.' The grandfather from New Orleans, US, underwent two surgeries to remove the infected skin tissue. Doctors said he had contracted Vibrio vulnificus, which is a deadly bacterium found in warm coastal waters. Kennedy died of organ failure on July 21. 'His kidneys never woke up,' his daughter added. 'They had shut down from the septic shock. His liver was declining daily as a result of the septic shock, and ... there's nothing they could do.' Scientists believe the number of cases is rising as due to climate change making the waters warmer, which means Vibrio is spreading further north and remaining on coasts longer. Anyone can become infected but individuals with chronic health conditions such as liver disease, cancer, diabetes, HIV, or those who are immunocompromised, face a much higher risk of severe illness or death. The rare infection has already killed 32 people across the Gulf Coast this year. Furthermore, 17 people in Louisiana have been infected with the bacteria, resulting in four deaths. According to the CDC, about 1 in 5 people with Vibrio vulnificus die, sometimes within 48 hours of becoming ill. The bacteria can cause illness when an open wound is exposed to coastal waters or when a person eats raw or undercooked seafood, including oysters. His heartbroken daughters are trying to raise awareness of the rare disease - but still want people to enjoy the waters as her keen sailor dad did. 'There doesn't need to be a fear of the water,' Kennedy said. 'There really needs to be an education and an understanding of how to be prepared for a situation where you may be exposed or there is a potential risk.'
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Grandpa, 77, did all he could to stay safe from flesh-eating bacteria... but it still infected and killed him
A Mississippi family is raising awareness after their grandfather died from a flesh-eating bacteria - as cases continue to rise. Basil Kennedy, 77, of Bay St Louis, near New Orleans, died in the hospital on July 21, just days after contracting Vibrio vulnificus, a rare but potentially deadly bacterium often found in warm coastal waters. Kennedy, a long-time sailor, got infected after he cut his leg on the trailer he had used to launch a boat into the Mississippi waters. He had used hydrogen peroxide to clean the wound and covered it with a Band-Aid. But within three days, the infection took over and the grandfather-of-two was taken to the hospital with a fever, vomiting, and elevated levels of lactic acid - a warning sign of sepsis - his daughter Kay Kennedy Regimbal told While there, he underwent two surgeries to remove the infected skin tissue and doctors determined the cause was the flesh-eating bacteria. He died of organ failure days later. 'If you met him once or a million times, you loved him,' his daughter, Rebekah Kennedy, wrote on Facebook. 'The sun shined brighter, the smiles were bigger, and the mood was lighter when he was around. He made every room immediately more fun,' she said. 'My dad wasn't just special; he was the life of every party and the pillar of our family. He inspired, challenged, and made us all better for having known him.' His two daughters are now raising awareness of the rare infection that has already killed 32 people across the Gulf Coast this year. Seventeen people in Louisiana, including four deaths, have been infected with it this year. The bacteria is naturally found in brackish, a mix of fresh and saltwater, and coastal waters. It is most prevalent between May and October, the CDC said. People mainly contract the infection from eating raw or undercooked shellfish or having an open wound become infected. Roughly one in five will die from the infection, typically within only a few days of contracting it. Symptoms of the disease include watery diarrhea, stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, low blood pressure, blistering skin lesions, discoloration, and discharge. The number of cases is rising as due to climate change making the waters warmer. Despite the infection killing their father, Kay and Rebekah do not want people to fear the water, their father's favorite place. While in hospital he underwent two surgeries to remove the infected skin tissue and doctors determined the cause was the flesh-eating bacteria 'There doesn't need to be a fear of the water,' Kay told 'There needs to be an education and a knowledge of if you have a cut, if you potentially could have been exposed, if there is a risk, how to handle it and what to do.' The former banker spent most of his life on the water and it was his 'happy place'. He even co-founded the Waveland Ground Zero Museum to remember the history of Hurricane Katrina. He also served as a board member, treasurer, and commodore for the Bay Waveland Yacht Club. This year, Kennedy, who went by 'Boppy' to his grandchildren, was awarded the Jack and Flo Scheib Award from the Gulf Yachting Association for his contributions to sailing, his obituary revealed. The museum created a scholarship in his memory, alongside LiLi Stahler, for their 'vision and dedication.' The Ole Miss alumnus even boated around Canada and took a cruise with his wife from England to Miami. 'He was happy. He was resilient. He had a servant's heart,' Rebekah told 'Basil was one of these guys who liked to bring people together to enjoy each other's company, and it was always just fun being around him,' close friend, Corky Hadden, told WWLTV. 'You knew you were going to have a good time.' Kennedy is survived by his wife Marie Kuhner Kennedy, his daughters, and his grandchildren.
