Father-of-four nearly dies after ingrown hair suddenly escalates into flesh-eating disease ‘within hours’
- Dad of four is suddenly struck down by a flesh-eating disease
- Shawn Dell had an ingrown hair which led to a stint in ICU
- The former military veteran contracted necrotising fasciitis
- WARNING: GRAPHIC
A dad of four young kids had to fight for his life after an ingrown hair on his neck turned into a deadly flesh-eating bug infection ‘in a matter of hours’.
Shawn Dell woke up feeling ill on Sunday and his wife Kat called an ambulance to rush him to Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital when she realised his condition was worsening.
The ‘fit, active and healthy’ father from North Lakes in Brisbane’s north was taken into intensive care unit where he was immediately sedated.
It was discovered the military veteran who served in Afghanistan had contracted necrotising fasciitis – a condition that eats away at flesh under the skin.
The rare condition can lead to sepsis, shock, organ failure and death, and only occurs in one in a 100,000 people.
Shawn Dell (pictured, with his wife Kat) woke up feeling ill on Sunday and his wife called an ambulance when she realised his condition was worsening
Ms Dell said the whole experience has been ‘so overwhelming’ while she has been trying to stay strong for her family during this tough time (pictured, the couple with their four children)
Ms Dell told Yahoo News Australia the whole experience has been ‘overwhelming’ while also trying to stay strong for her children.
Friend of the family Anna Richards said Mr Dell also suffered a heart attack in the home without knowing it as well as having a blood clot that has since been cleared.
She said the skin infection began when he started to pick at an ingrown hair on his neck which led to bacteria entering his body and releasing toxins into the bloodstream.
This made him feel extremely sick ‘in a matter of hours’.
He has undergone surgery three times since Sunday to clear out the infection where an ‘extreme amount of dead tissue’ was removed.
The rare condition (pictured, a stock image) can lead to sepsis, shock, organ failure and death and only occurs in one per 100,000 people
‘Shawn has had his skin removed from his collarbone to his neck, under the jaw, to the opposite collarbone and to his chest plate, this also included a bit of muscle from his neck,’ Ms Richards said on a GoFundMe page set up to support the couple.
Mr Dell remains in hospital with his family and friends rallying around him.
Ms Richards said money raised will go towards keeping the household running with their four children, Jagger, Jordi, Ella and Jackson – as Ms Dell focuses on her husband’s recovery.
The crowdfunding venture has so far garnered $19,445, smashing past its $15,000 target.
Ms Richards described Mr Dell as a ‘gentle giant’ who is selfless and would do ‘absolutely anything for his family and friends’.
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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk