Young father's warning after losing limbs to meningococcal
DISTRESSING CONTENT WARNING: A Perth father-of-two has issued a shocking warning about a disease that has changed his life forever.
Jake Clift, 28, thought he had a bad case of gastro but within hours meningococcal bacteria had ravaged his body.
His family was told he would not make it through the night, but remarkably he pulled through.
"I can't believe how fast it actually got me," he told 7News.
Mr Clift was given a five per cent chance of survival while on life support.
He needed both legs amputated from the knee down as well as his hands. The infection killed those parts of his body.
"All I can remember is waking up in RPH [Royal Perth Hospital] and I had to ask the doctor what had happened," Mr Clift revealed.
It was Boxing Day last year when Mr Clift started vomiting before his condition quickly deteriorated.
By the time the father-of-two arrived at hospital, a purple rash had covered his body.
Mr Clift's organs started to fail and his family was told to say goodbye.
"[Mr Clift was] so lifeless and just lay there and the machines were controlling his whole body," his brother, Travis, recalled.
But against all odds, Mr Clift made it through the night.
Four months on, his battle is not over. Mr Clift is still in and out of hospital and needs ongoing care, rehabilitation, a specialised car and – one day – prosthetic limbs.
But first, he wants to warn others about the deadly bacteria.
Forty-six West Australians were infected last year - double the number reported just a year earlier.
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The West Australian government offers free vaccinations against meningococcal for children under five, while also being free for teenagers aged between 15 and 19.
But Mr Clift says even if you have to pay for it, the vaccine could save your life.
"Just make sure you get the needle because it comes fast like just how quick it got me. When I was young I used to think, just don't share drink bottles. That's the only way I thought you could get it," he said.
If you would like to help Mr Clift, a GoFundMe fundraising page has been setup.
