Latest news with #amputation
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Dad-of-five, 35, forced to have both ‘burning' legs amputated after falling ill on family holiday in Italy
A DAD-of-five was forced to have both his legs amputated, after they began "burning" and turned black while on holiday. Alessandro Luciano, 35, was in southern Italy with his wife Iljhama and their five children. 8 8 The electrician came down with a fever on the first day of his summer holidays in August last year. Alessandro also noticed black spots appearing on his limbs and rushed to a local hospital. 'My legs were burning, and black spots suddenly appeared on my feet and hands,' the dad recalled. He was diagnosed with a meningococcal type B infection, a serious illness that can lead to meningitis and blood poisoning. In the UK, babies and children are given the MenB vaccine to protect against the dangerous bacteria. Alessandro developed a rare and extremely serious complication, purpura fulminans. The life-threatening condition damages the skin and tissues, causing purple lesions and tissue necrosis. With his health suddenly and rapidly deteriorating, the electrician was urgently transferred to a hospital in his home city Stuttgart, Germany. Doctors had to amputate the lower half of both his legs after they turned black. They also removed four fingers on his right hand, and part of a finger on his left. Gran 'devastated' after being forced to have both legs AMPUTATED after getting two 'mosquito-sized' bites on leg in Cork Iljhama, who met Alessandro when they were 14 years old said: 'My husband and I have been in a committed relationship for 21 years and married for almost 15 years. 'We lived happily with our five children. 'And then our nightmare began. 'After many difficult months caring for my mother, we went on vacation to southern Italy. 'But we were not allowed to be happy, our hearts shattered into more than 1,000 pieces when he contracted meningococcus nesseria purpura fulminans. 8 8 8 'He survived, and thankfully his nervous system was not damaged. 'But he needed bilateral leg amputation up to the knee, four fingers on the right hand were amputated, the middle finger on the left hand was partially amputated, and the index finger is severely restricted.' Alessandro had recently renovated the family's fifth-floor apartment. But the same home became an obstacle, after he returned home from surgery in a wheelchair. The dad can't manage the five-floor walk up on his own and installing a stair lift in the apartment building is impossible due to building regulations. Iljhama launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of installing an external lift. She explained: 'I currently carry him up and down the five floors twice a day using a stair climber – a total weight of over 100kg. 'This not only puts a heavy strain on my health, it also takes away the last vestiges of his independence and dignity. 'A stair lift is not possible under building regulations and modern wheelchairs with tracked wheels are also ruled out due to the narrow stairwell. 'An external elevator is our only hope, but this costs tens of thousands of Euros – and we cannot finance it. 'The fact that he's now completely dependent on me, barely mobile, hurts him deeply, and it tears me apart inside.' So far, £43,667 (€50,386) of the £121,596 (€140,000) goal has been raised. 8 8
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
West Sussex boy wants to 'enjoy life' after losing legs to sepsis
A 13-year-old boy who lost both legs to sepsis says he is getting his strength back and looking forward to the future, a year after being placed in an induced first went into hospital in June 2024 with leg pain. He later developed a life-threatening blood infection and underwent months of treatment, including two induced comas and care at Evelina London Children's teenager, from Rusper in West Sussex, had his left leg amputated in August 2024 and his right in February 2025 after efforts to save it fitted with prosthetic limbs, Austin said: "I can't change what happened in the past, but I can change what is in front of me." Austin has returned to school and has had to learn to walk again. He said: "So much has changed - I'm getting my strength back and trying new things."He first became unwell after complaining of leg pain. His grandmother noticed the tips of his ears turning blue and he was taken to hospital, where he was diagnosed with sepsis, the life-threatening blood infection. He was placed in a coma for three he developed a secondary infection and was induced into a coma father, Warwick, said: "My wife and I were told to prepare for the worst. "In life a lot of people take their health for granted, and so did we, but suddenly you realise how fragile it is."It makes you focus on what is important in life." A keen sportsperson, Austin has swapped hockey for wheelchair tennis and basketball. He is also rowing with Paralympic gold medallist Rachel Morris."I'm just trying so many different things and enjoying life," he said.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Woman given her independence back after leg amputated
A woman whose lower leg was amputated after her toes turned black is now looking forward to getting her independence back as she learns "to walk all over again".Seven months ago Hazel Howell, from Moss Side in Manchester had the operation to save her life when she developed gangrene in her right foot, the result of type-2 diabetes which had gone out of 82-year-old, who also has a heart problem told the BBC her initial reaction after the operation was "relief that I was still alive" , but then the harsh reality of losing a limb set in."It's not easy. You have to depend on friends, family. I have to learn to walk all over again". Immediately after her operation, Hazel had to learn to walk again using a practice limb, a large inflatable device supported by a frame which cushions the lower part of her own leg in it, before she could safely use a prosthetic usually takes three to four months of training and strengthening exercises to safely use a prosthetic still has a way to go to fully regain her independence, but she has overcome a huge challenge and is now using a said: "When I put the [prosthetic] leg on first, because it hurts, I got a bit downhearted and was a little bit depressed. But somehow, I picked myself up and the encouragement of the family helps me," she about advice for others going through a similar operation, she added: "Don't give up hope, keep trying. Because when you give up there's nothing. But if you keep looking forward there is something ahead and you will meet that thing ahead". Modern artificial limbs are often lighter than our own but because they have no muscles or sensation, they can feel much El-Fayed, senior physiotherapist, at the Manchester Specialised Ability Centre, said: "People do find it quite challenging, they find the weight of the devices quite heavy."It swings like a pendulum, it's not part of your body, it's suspended by materials that can move up and down, get caught in the ground, that can twist, rotate."Adam said some people ultimately decided that they were more comfortable using a wheelchair."50-55% will be issued with a prosthetic leg – roughly a 50% chance at the below the knee amputation level. The higher you go, up to above the knee, it's less than one in five," he said. Prosthetist Shannon Hughes said much of the job is about helping people regain their said: "Often people have been through the worst time of their lives and ours is all about trying to get them back to some sort of normality or some sense of being able to achieve things on their own."Fitting for a new limb is a multi-stage process, involving numerous measurements, plaster casts, and adjustments to make sure the pressure is on the parts of the remaining leg most able to take the will need several different casts throughout the first couple of years as the amputation wound heals and the swelling subsides. Hazel's leg still hasn't fully healed since her operation because of her diabetes. She has a genetic predisposition to the condition, which has blighted her family for mum and dad both had the disease, and her brother and son both died of complications relating to is a major cause of lower limb amputation in adults. The charity Diabetes UK says it leads to more than 180 amputations a many people lifestyle plays an important role. Consultant Dr Bhaskar Basu, who is the clinical lead for the service, says the demography of the patients he sees is changing rapidly."We used to see diabetes in [patients in their] 70 and 80s, now we're seeing [them in their] 40s, not only with diabetes but with complications – amputations, diabetic foot ulcers…and blindness."The condition can also make it more difficult for those who have had an amputation to learn to use a prosthetic because the remaining leg doesn't heal properly. But Adam El-Sayed says people can be surprising."In some cases against all odds they'll come here to the centre to be assessed, and that person might be someone you read on paper as probably not possible for that to happen, then that person defies the odds," he said"Ultimately, you can achieve quite remarkable and extraordinary things." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow BBC Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Sky News
6 days ago
- Sky News
Hit-and-run victim who lost leg criticises 'appalling' sentence given to uninsured driver
A man who had his leg amputated after a hit-and-run has criticised the "appalling" sentence given to the motorist - as he backed a campaign to increase the "shoddy" penalties for uninsured drivers. Ieuan Parry also suffered a fractured skull when he was struck by the driver of a white Mitsubishi fleeing police at high speed near Ebbw Vale, South Wales. The uninsured motorist fled the scene and Mr Parry - who had been working on the roadside of a closed lane - was left with devastating injuries and the "agony" of "phantom pain" following his amputation. The driver - who had reached speeds of more than 130mph during the police chase - later tried to blame the incident on his ex-partner by calling 999 and falsely claiming she had stolen his vehicle, according to reports. He was jailed for three years and four months in February 2024 after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice. It is understood he has since been released from prison. Mr Parry - who asked Sky News not to name the motorist - said he felt "extremely frustrated" and "angry" about the driver's actions and believes he should have received a longer prison term. "I think it's appalling to be honest with you," the 27-year-old told Sky News. "(The sentence was) not harsh enough for the seriousness of his crime." The Motor Insurers' Bureau (MIB), which has been supporting Mr Parry, is now calling for fines for uninsured drivers to increase from £300 to £1,200, saying the current penalty "simply isn't enough of a deterrent". Mr Parry was 24 when he was struck by the car while working by the A465 Heads of the Valleys road near Ebbw Vale in November 2021. Describing the incident, he said he was using a leaf blower on the roadside shortly after noon when he heard a "droning noise" and looked up to see the vehicle coming towards him at speed. "Before I had chance to do anything or move, I was struck - hit off my feet," he said. "That's where the nightmare started." 'Excruciating pain' Mr Parry suffered a fractured skull and a badly broken left leg that later had to be amputated below the knee. "(I was in) excruciating pain on the side of the road," he said. "I remember asking: 'Is my leg okay? Will I lose my leg?'" Despite the severity of his injuries, Mr Parry tried to reach for his phone to contact work colleagues while lying in the road. "I was more concerned about how it had happened - because I was in a coned-off lane," he said. "I wondered, 'would there be more cars coming behind this car?'" Describing his feelings towards the driver, Mr Parry said: "Obviously extremely frustrated… angry. "God forbid it never happens, but if I ever found myself in a situation where I'd injured someone, the last thing I'd be doing is thinking about fleeing from the accident." Leg amputated Mr Parry spent 17 days at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff where he underwent surgery on five occasions. Recalling the moment he was told his leg would have to be amputated, he said: "A lot of things went through my mind in terms of work, the relationship with my girlfriend… how everything in my life that I've worked towards thus far was going to be flipped round on its head. "I did find that very difficult to deal with… losing your independence, not being able to go to the toilet on your own, not being able to wash yourself, not being able to do even the simplest of tasks." Since the amputation, Mr Parry said he has dealt with the "weird sensation" of "phantom pain", which he continues to face to this day. "It's basically the nerves that still reside in my amputated leg sending signals to the brain," he said. "It's almost like you feel as if your amputated limb is still there and you can get various sensations, from pins and needles and numbness…. through to quite severe pain. "It almost feels like someone's got a set of pliers on your toe and is squeezing it. "Those sorts of pains, although they are getting better now, are still fairly frequent and they can immobilise you with agony." 'My life is never going to go back to normal' Mr Parry has also faced feelings of anxiety over the "massive change" in his appearance and his inability to do tasks he once found "very straightforward". He said he was "eternally grateful" for the support of his close family - particularly his partner Sophie who he married in June last year. "There's no way on this I'd have been able to cope with it on my own," he added. Since the collision, Mr Parry has started his own fencing and groundwork company but said: "I've come to the realisation that my life is never going to go back to normal as it was before." He added: "I'm always going to have disadvantages and issues with mobility and completing tasks, where I would not even have thought twice about it before." Campaign to increase uninsured driving penalties The MIB is calling on the government to increase the current £300 fine for driving uninsured to £1,200 as part of its new five-year strategy, called Accelerating To Zero, which aims to end uninsured driving for good. What are the penalties for driving without insurance? Police can issue a fixed penalty of £300 and six penalty points to anyone caught driving a vehicle they are not insured to drive. If the case goes to court, the penalties can increase to an unlimited fine and the culprit can be disqualified from driving. Police also have the power to seize and, in some cases, destroy a vehicle that has been driven uninsured. A YouGov poll of more than 2,000 people found 78% did not think a £300 fine was enough of a deterrent and three-quarters supported increasing the fine to £1,200, according to the MIB. The MIB's chief executive Angus Eaton said uninsured drivers "wreck lives", adding: "We believe that the current penalty of £300, which hasn't changed in over 10 years, simply isn't enough of a deterrent. "We're calling for the penalty to be raised so that it is double the average premium, to help eradicate the issue." Mr Parry has backed the campaign, saying a fine for uninsured driving "definitely needs to be a lot more than £300". "For the fine to be less than an average insurance premium for the year, I think it's a bit shoddy," he added. A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "We take uninsured driving very seriously - it is dangerous and unacceptable. "That is why the department is considering policy options on the motoring offences as part of the Road Safety Strategy."
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Telegraph
Amputation surgeon accused of paying Eunuch Maker to cut off others' legs
A vascular surgeon who carried out hundreds of amputation operations before having his own legs removed has been charged with fraud, police said. Neil Hopper, 49, has also been charged with encouraging someone else to remove the body parts of others. Mr Hopper has been accused of buying videos from the Eunuch Maker website showing the removal of limbs, which 'encouraged Marius Gustavson to remove body parts of third parties' between Aug 21 2018 and Dec 4 2020. He has also been accused of dishonestly making false representations to insurers, claiming his leg injuries were the 'result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted' between June 3 and June 26 2019. Mr Hopper, of Truro, Cornwall, is due before Cornwall Magistrates' Court in Bodmin on Wednesday. He has not worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust since March 2023. The General Medical Council placed restrictions on his practice the following month, and he was suspended from the medical register in December 2023. A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: 'The Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, where Mr Hopper has been employed, has worked closely with Devon and Cornwall Police throughout the investigation.' Mr Hopper previously told the BBC that losing his legs had made his life 'more interesting'. 'The thought of power tools being used on me was icky. It was really weird,' he added. A hospital trust spokesman said: 'The charges do not relate to Mr Hopper's professional conduct and there has been no evidence to suggest any risk to patients. 'Mr Hopper worked at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals from 2013 until he was suspended from duty in March 2023, following his initial arrest. 'Former patients with any questions or concerns about their treatment can contact the Royal Cornwall Hospitals' patient experience team.'
