‘Healthy’ man, 56, who caught coronavirus is forced to have half his leg amputated after he developed blood clot and his foot turned BLACK
- Lee Mabbatt, 56, a BT engineer from Bournemouth, contacted covid in October
- After ten days in isolation at home he began to feel better but had a ‘dead leg’
- He was rushed into surgery after a six inch blood clot was discovered in his thigh
- Despite efforts his foot turned black and he was forced to have leg amputated
A man who had his leg amputated after suffering covid-19 is urging people to respect social distancing, as he claims the virus caused his life threatening blood clot.
Lee Mabbatt, 56, a BT engineer from Bournemouth, Dorset, had his right leg amputated below the knee after a six inch blood clot formed in his thigh, causing his foot to turn black.
The father told how he had contracted coronavirus late October, describing the virus as ‘worse than the flu’ with symptoms including an achy body and a loss of taste.
After ten days in isolation at home Mr Mabbatt started to feel better, believing he had recovered unscathed until he discovered he had no feeling in his right foot.
Lee Mabbatt, 56, (pictured) a BT engineer from Bournemouth, Dorset, had his right leg amputated below the knee after a six inch blood clot formed in his thigh
Mr Mabbatt said: ‘On the Saturday I had what I call a dead leg, so I phoned 111 the next day who advised me to take painkillers.
‘The pain increased again a few days later so I phoned 111 again and they told me to go to A&E. Tests were done and I had a CT scan which showed a six inch blood clot at the top of my thigh.’
Surgeons at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital operated immediately to remove the clot in an attempt to return blood flow to Mr Mabbat’s foot, however in the days after the toes and ball of his right foot slowly began to turn black.
Mr Mabbatt said: ‘After the operation I was in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital for 13 days to see if my blood supply would return. The supply had stopped reaching my ankle and my foot slowly started to die.’
After making the decision to have his leg amputated in January Lee was discharged from hospital, however he was rushed back on Tuesday, December 15, to have the leg amputated when the foot turned black.
The 56-year-old said he had no pre-existing health conditions and is warning others to respect social distancing to avoid getting covid-19
He said: ‘Before I contracted coronavirus, I was perfectly healthy but Covid gave me a six inch blood clot. Luckily, I’m recovering a lot quicker than those who have underlying health conditions.
‘I should be walking again with a prosthetic in three months. I just want to walk my dogs and lead a normal life, but it is different now.
‘I’m very lucky with what my life is like. I live in a bungalow and I can work from home whilst sitting in a wheelchair. It’s not going to affect me as much as it has other people.’
Now that Lee is in recovery, he is urging people to abide by the imposed restrictions in order to keep everyone safe.
This includes not holding anti-lockdown protests.
Lee said: ‘Those who hold these marches think they’re invincible but this could easily happen to them. For these people, it won’t be until it affects someone they know that they will realise how serious it is.
‘They have family so how would they feel if it happened to them? I gave Covid to my son and I was mortified.
He added: ‘All the hospital staff, the porters, nurses and doctors, have been absolutely magic and are risking their lives every day for us.
‘The least we can do is try to stick by the rules while the vaccine is rolled out.’