South Asia leads with 2.68 million traumatic amputation cases, while East Asia reports the lowest rates at 101.01 cases per 100,000 population (Representative image: Pexels)
MedBound Blog

Camping Trip Horror: Man Loses Both Legs After Minor Burn Leads to Deadly Sepsis

What started as a minor burn from a hot pan turned into a life-changing ordeal for 40-year-old Max Armstrong from Colorado

MBT Desk

A Simple Accident Turns Tragic

While camping with friends in December 2024, 40-year-old Max accidentally touches a hot skillet while cooking pasta. Accustomed to minor injuries from his outdoor lifestyle, he simply cleaned the burn, bandaged it, and thought nothing of it.

After a few days, Max's left leg began to swell, and his nails turned purple. A week after the incident, his condition worsened so much that he was taken to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed her with severe strep A bacteria, an infection that had progressed to sepsis, a life-threatening condition if not treated promptly.

It was a hunting trip with friends that turned into a bit of a nightmare. I grabbed a skillet wrong and my thumb touched the hot part, I could feel it burning as I moved it to the table but I didn’t want to drop it. I didn’t think much of it as I have gotten burns, scrapes, and cuts from living in the outdoors and being outdoors my whole life. After dinner, I cleaned up the burn, put a bandage on it, and left it.
Max Armstrong
Over a million people suffer burn injuries annually across Africa alone, accounting for 18% of hospital admissions with a mortality rate of 6-10%.

Induced Coma and Life-Changing Surgery

As Max's health was declining from time to time, doctors decided to place him in a coma for six days. Max awoke to the shocking news that sepsis had completely consumed his foot and was beginning to spread to his legs. Max showed reluctance at first, but when doctors advised him about the severe complications he could face, and amputation is the only way to save his life. Max had no choice but to undergo a three-hour operation.

When I woke up, I initially thought my legs were still there. Then I reached down and realized they weren't. The nurse confirmed it, but she kept reminding me that my family was waiting for me, which helped me process it all.
Max Armstrong


After a month of recovery in the hospital, Max returned home and began to adapt to life in a wheelchair. Although his journey has been difficult, he is determined to move forward and adjust to his new reality.

References:

1. New York Post. "I Burned My Thumb on a Camping Trip — and Had to Get My Legs Amputated." New York Post, February 2, 2025. Accessed February 5, 2025. https://nypost.com/2025/02/02/lifestyle/i-burned-my-thumb-on-a-camping-trip-and-had-to-get-my-legs-amputated/.

(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Muhammad Faisal/MSM)

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