An Australian man who had to have his arm amputated after a flesh-eating disease devoured the flesh in his torso has returned to work after lifesaving surgery.
Doctors discovered that Craig Huddleston, from New South Wales, had necrotising fasciitis after operating on him to repair a torn pectoral muscle.
The rare flesh-eating disease occurs when bacteria enters the body through a break in the skin, like an open cut.
In order to treat it, doctors often have to remove the infected tissue, resulting in amputation.
Australian man Craig Huddleston, 48, lost his left arm after doctors discovered he had necrotising fasciitis, flesh-eating and sometimes deadly disease
Mr Huddleston was eager to get back to work, even after undergoing 11 surgeries. He has to have a mirror next to him to ‘trick’ his brain into thinking his left arm is still there
Mr Huddleston woke up two weeks after the pectoral operation, having undergone 11 surgeries, to find he had lost his left arm and most of the muscles on that side of his torso.
Speaking to The Project, the 48-year-old said he was keen to get back to work despite still getting phantom pains where his arm used to be.
‘When I’m at my desk I’ll have a mirror next to me so it appears that I’ve got a left arm,’ he said.
‘Apparently that helps your brain to understand that that part of you is missing. Yeah because it feels…my nerves think they’re still connected there.’
Mr Huddleston has to wear a burn suit 23 hours a day and his partner, Lisa, has become his carer.
‘On my chest you can see my ribs, you can see my heart beating and basically I’ve got to hold everything up with one half of my body,’ Mr Huddleston said of his injuries
Mr Huddleston has to wear a burn suit 23 hours a day and his partner, Lisa, has become his carer
‘So on my chest you can see my ribs, you can see my heart beating and basically I’ve got to hold everything up with one half of my body, which is quite a challenge,’ Mr Huddleston told the program.
The disease affects around 400 Australians each year, with the key to survival being early detection.
Alfred Hospital’s Head of Plastics, Dr Frank Bruscino-Raiola, said early surgical intervention was the best chance those affected had of losing as little tissue as possible, and staying alive.
Despite his pain, Mr Huddleston has been determined to live an independent life and was able to get his driving license back.
The 48-year-old, who was an avid motorbike rider before losing his arm, now wants to get his motorbike license back.
Mr Huddleston (pictured with his partner Lisa) said he now wants to try and get his motorbike license back