Man goes to doctor thinking he has the flu, has both legs amputated

After visiting his general practitioner (GP) with what he initially believed to be extreme symptoms of the flu, a father of three learned he had walked for the last time on his own legs.

James Mackey, of Bracknell, England, was rushed to hospital and placed in intensive care where doctors delivered some tragic news that would change his life forever.

Keep reading to learn what happened to this man, who at the time was in his mid 30s!

In mid-October 2016, James Mackey visited his doctor, hoping to find some relief for the severe flu-like symptoms he was suffering.

Instead of walking out with a prescription, Mackey, 36 at the time, was placed in an ambulance and rushed to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading, England.

“After several scans and tests it he was diagnosed with a strain of sepsis,” writes Mackey’s now wife, Ashley.

The Mayo Clinic defines sepsis as a potentially fatal “condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection. The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly.” In addition, it can progress to septic shock that can damage “the lungs, kidneys, liver and other organs. When the damage is severe, it can lead to death. Early treatment of sepsis improves chances for survival.”

Ashley shared that before moving him to a specialty hospital, her husband was in intensive care and on a ventilator for two weeks.

At the time, she wrote, “While he is improving daily, due to the severity of his illness, James underwent a double lower leg amputation at the beginning of November.” Sharing his story on a former GoFundMe, which exceeded its fundraising goal, Ashley adds, “As you can imagine, this is a major blow to an active young man who enjoys cycling, running and playing football with his children.”

The GoFundMe was organized by Mackey’s sister-in-law Lucy Webb to help the man, who’s the father to daughter Faith and sons Lennie and Harry, with living and costly medical expenses.

“We are looking for help to raise the funds to enable us to buy the prosthetic equipment he needs to do this. His main goal is to be able to get back on his bike and play football with his children again,” Ashley wrote. “If you know James, you know he is a fighter and he is determined to do all the things he did before his amputation.”

Speaking with local media at the time, Webb said he’s “so positive” and “inspiring.”

“He’s got a teenage daughter and two boys at primary school and he’s so active. He rides his bike, he plays football but he’s very accepting of what’s happened,” Webb said.

Sepsis: a serious global threat

Hoping to raise awareness by sharing Mackey’s story, the family warns people that “[sepsis] could happen to anyone.”

According to a 2023 study, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that in 2017 there were 48.9 million cases and 11 million sepsis-related deaths worldwide, which accounted for almost 20% of all global deaths.”

Also noteworthy in the report is that “almost half of all global sepsis cases occurred among children, with an estimated 20 million cases and 2.9 million global deaths in children under 5 years of age.”

“The sooner you can get it diagnosed the easier it is to recover,” Webb said, adding doctors believe the point of infection was a small cut in his hand. “James had four days of going undiagnosed for it to take hold.”

A fighter

According to social media, Mackey appears to have adapted really well to his new prosthetics.

In 2017, he returned to work as a landscaper and in 2018, he took part in a para triathlon – a sporting event typically involving a 750-meter swim, 20-km bike ride and a 5-km run –and raised funds for Limbcare, an organization that supports people with new limbs.

In 2019, the British-born man wed Ashley, who arranged for him to arrive at the church in a Ferrari.

In a Facebook post that shows Mackey next to the white sports car, Ashley writes, “James was so chuffed! This was the best day of our [lives] and having the Ferrari as the wedding car for the groom was spectacular.”

What a frightening ordeal! We’re happy to see that James Mackey recovered and is getting along well with his new legs!

What do you think of this story? Please share your comments with us and then share this story so others will also know about the dangers of sepsis.