Flesh-eating bug warning
THE Royal Geelong Show brought joy to thousands of Geelong residents this year, creating happy memories for families to reflect on in years to come. A MAN who lost his leg from a flesh-eating bacteria in Apollo Bay has issued a warning for others working outdoors.
Alan Wilmshurst, 69, thought he had nothing more significant than an annoying rock in his boot, but was surprised to find a small cut on his foot after he finished work in Apollo Bay one day in October 2018.
A year later the civil engineer is still undergoing rehabilitation after narrowly escaping with his life as bacteria necrotising fasciitis took over.
“No matter how small a cut you get, be very careful of your personal hygiene and put some antiseptic on them,” Mr Wilmshurst said.
“Once it gets into your system, unless you jump on it straight away, it just takes hold. It virtually dissolved my foot in 36 hours.”
After cleaning his cut with Dettol and covering it with a Band-Aid, Mr Wilmshurst thought it had completely healed after a week. Suffering what he thought was the flu, Mr Wilmshurst visited a GP for three days but was not responding to antibiotics, so was sent to Colac Hospital.
“They admitted me Monday evening, Tuesday they
The four-day fun-filled event wrapped up yesterday after a jam-packed schedule of events, showbags and rides.
Screams of joy rang out as people whizzed around on thrill seeker-rides, and it wouldn’t be said ‘we are going to debride (remove flesh from the bone) your foot and put you on antibiotics’,” Mr Wilmshurst said. “When I came around from the surgery the doctor said, ‘I have some bad a show without children deliberating over the best showbag to buy. Vintage machinery displays, craft and cooking competitions, live entertainment and a farmyard for the kids were hits among attendees. news for you … there’s nothing left of your foot. It was going from a procedural surgery to a lifesaving surgery.
In the time taken to remove the bacteria it had worked its way further up Mr Wilmshurst’s leg, requiring two surgeries over the coming days.”
After rehabilitation he was able to stand on a prosthetic for the first time on Christmas Eve.