A teenager faced a chilling ordeal after a swim in a lake during hot weather led to a severe leg injury. Jacob Butler, 14, accidentally cut his leg on a wire while swimming at Colliers Moss Park in Cheshire last week. The wound became infected with flesh-eating bacteria, landing him in the hospital.
Without his parents present when the incident occurred on April 30, Jacob reached out to his father for help. A nearby fisherman assisted by applying a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding before paramedics arrived to airlift Jacob to the hospital.
Following emergency surgery to address the infection, Jacob was sent home, only to return to the hospital on May 13 due to recurring signs of infection. Subsequent surgeries revealed that around 15cm of flesh had been consumed by the bacteria, leaving a significant portion of his leg exposed.
Jacob’s mother, Rebecca, recounted the harrowing experience, expressing gratitude for the medical team’s efforts in saving her son’s life. Despite the challenges, she remains hopeful for Jacob’s recovery and has initiated an Instagram campaign, Jacob’s Water Warning, to raise awareness about water safety.
Jacob, now emphasizing the dangers of open water, urged caution following his traumatic ordeal. In response to such incidents, The Mirror has launched the Save Lives For Sam water safety campaign to promote awareness and preventive measures, including mandatory water safety education in schools and improved safety protocols at waterways.
