A 13-year-old boy had to have both legs amputated after what was thought to be leg cramp from exercising turned out to be sepsis. Austin Hunter, from Rusper, West Sussex, began experiencing leg cramps last June after attending a series of sports camps.
His parents, Warwick and Holly, initially believed the pain was simply due to physical exertion, but alarm bells rang when Austin’s resting heart rate soared to 120bpm and his fingertips turned blue, prompting them to dial 111 and rush him to A&E. Admitted to East Surrey Hospital at 6pm, by 10pm Austin’s parents were being told that their son may not survive.
Warwick, 44, a chartered surveyor, and Holly, 45, had to say goodbye to their son, then aged 12, as he was put into an induced coma and transferred to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.
Warwick recounted the ordeal: “It was the unimaginable. I really thought we had lost him. I kissed his forehead goodbye – as did his mum. And I just sat in that waiting room thinking about how we’d break the news to his sister. I just couldn’t believe the speed of it. At 6pm, Austin had walked into A&E by himself. By 10pm, we were kissing him goodbye.”
The diagnosis revealed a severe complication from a Strep A infection, where the bacteria had entered his bloodstream, leading to sepsis and multiple organ failure as both his liver and kidneys began shutting down.
Despite doctors’ fears that his heart might not cope with the strain, Austin, still in a coma, continued to fight for his life and eventually his condition stabilised. Austin gradually began to recover, undergoing multiple operations as doctors attempted to preserve his limbs.
However, his left leg, which had become blackened, couldn’t be salvaged – and it was removed in August. In December, Austin went under the knife again in hopes of preserving his right leg.
Nevertheless, he remained in excruciating pain afterwards, and was informed his prospects of running on his foot were minimal. Austin, an avid athlete, had to weigh up what he wanted – and chose he’d prefer to become a double amputee if it enabled him to participate in the sports he loved again.
Currently, Austin has been equipped with artificial limbs – and is trying his hand at all sorts of activities. He has experimented with rock climbing, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair golf, and is even receiving coaching from former Paralympian Rachel Morris, who secured a gold medal for rowing in 2016.
Warwick remarked: “When asked to name one of their heroes, I don’t think many dads would name their son, but I genuinely do. Austin’s approach to life is just unbelievable. I think that lots of people, if in his position, would be really down in the dumps, but he just wants to push forward. His mental fortitude has been incredible. He never says he can’t or won’t do something – he always says he’ll try. He’s an inspiration.”
Warwick noted one of the most startling aspects of Austin’s condition was the rapidity with which he declined. This has prompted the family to share his story in order to raise awareness about sepsis, encouraging discussions about its symptoms and treatment.
He explained: “Austin started to complain of leg cramp – which hopped around from his left calf, to his right thigh, to his left knee, to his right calf. It wasn’t that consistent, but when it was there, he was in a lot of discomfort and pain. He then started feeling tired and lethargic, and it got to the point where he was completely wiped out, just in bed.”
Warwick added: “We took him to the GP and were told he needed to rest and stay hydrated. But we realised it was a lot more serious than that when his resting heartrate got to 120bpm and his fingertips and ears started turning blue.”
He stressed that Austin had been walking normally when he was admitted. He explained: “He walked into hospital himself but soon after was hooked up to various wires and monitors. He turned very pale and started to sweat profusely. It was incredibly frightening but Austin was still relatively calm and was even making jokes with the staff.”
He added: “But then his heartrate reached 180bpm and doctors said they had to put him into a coma to stabilise him. They said it was unlikely he would make it – and that we should say goodbye.”
A night of terror followed, but by 6am Warwick and Holly were informed that Austin was no longer “at immediate risk of death”. They both attempted to get a brief amount of sleep, and when Warwick woke up, he felt as if he’d been in a “nightmare”.
He said: “I felt like I’d had the most vivid nightmare imaginable. But bizarrely, I was also hit with this moment of euphoria. he day before, I had accepted that we were going to lose him. I knew that June 19 would be the date we’d remember forever. But suddenly it was June 20 and he was upstairs and he was still fighting. So I just thought: ‘You can’t panic. You can’t be distraught.’ Instead, you need to go upstairs and see him and help him through his journey. Together we can see what’s achievable.”
Austin remained in the Evelina’s intensive care unit for three months, followed by a month in critical care, and then a further three months on a general ward. By August, medics determined his left leg required amputation – as it had deteriorated beyond repair and threatened to poison the remainder of his body.
Warwick recalled: “What was incredible about that situation was that Austin immediately thought, ‘This needs to go.’ He took the approach that it was no longer his foot – and instead something on his body that was poisoning him. Holly and I knew we had to tell his sister, Georgina, but Austin turned around and said, ‘I’ll tell her. Then she’ll understand that I’m okay with it.'”
He added: “It was just so thoughtful. He was dealing with a hell of a lot and he still considered others. Watching your then 12-year-old son tell your then 10-year-old daughter he was going to lose his leg with such emotional intelligence was just incredible.”
Doctors had hoped to preserve Austin’s remaining leg, but his recovery presented significant challenges. Aged 13, he made the decision to become an elective double amputee.
Warwick explained: “His leg was still incredibly painful and the chances of success in terms of being able to run and jump were minimal. It got to the point where the doctors said: ‘We can save your foot but you’ll have to walk with a stick.’ And I think his love of sports just took over. He had to think about what he wanted out of life and he thought he’d rather sacrifice his foot and become a double amputee – and see what’s achievable.”
He added: “While he was in hospital he had been watching the Paralympics and that was a huge inspiration. He had this idea of what his life could look like. And when I asked him how he felt, he said the second amputation was a lot easier mentally. Because it was his choice.”
Since Austin’s diagnosis, he and his family have been collaborating with Sepsis Trust UK to raise awareness about the condition. They’ve also been raising funds for the charities that provided help and support to Austin through a GoFundMe campaign, recently presenting a £50,000 cheque to Evelina Hospital.
Dr Ron Daniels, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at the UK Sepsis Trust, commented: “Sepsis is indiscriminate: it primarily affects very young children and older adults, and is also more common in people with underlying health conditions. But it can sometimes be triggered in those who are otherwise fit and healthy, like Austin. Austin’s resilience and positive outlook is truly inspiring, and we’re hugely grateful for his commitment to raising awareness of this life-changing condition.”
You can view and contribute to Austin’s GoFundMe page here. For further information on sepsis symptoms and where to seek assistance, visit the Sepsis Trust website here.
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