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Man almost dies after getting tiny paper cut on finger

A Queensland marketing manager has revealed he almost died after receiving a small paper cut on his finger at work.

Ryan Taylor checked himself into Gold Coast University Hospital on July 26 when his hand began to swell up, one day after the cut.

The Southport resident had no idea that he had actually developed necrotising fasciitis after a rare and potentially deadly flesh-eating bug entered his wound.

He told the Gold Coast Bulletin that doctors were initially unsure exactly what they were treating but within 12 hours it had spread from his finger to his elbow.

The 26-year-old has had to undergo ten surgeries to save his hand. Image: Instagram/Ryan Taylor
The 26-year-old has had to undergo ten surgeries to save his hand. Image: Instagram/Ryan Taylor

“They rushed me into theatre straight away and told me there was a possibility they would have to amputate my arm if it kept spreading, or there could even be loss of life,” he said.

Over the next 10 weeks, the 26-year-old underwent 10 bouts of surgery, during which time doctors cut open his forearm and vacuumed out the dead flesh being left behind by the bug.

“This is one of those nightmare diseases we hope as doctors we never see in our careers,” Gold Coast Medical Association president Dr Sonu Haikerwal told News Corp.

Mr Taylor is now undergoing intensive physiotherapy three times a week to regain use of his hand.

What is necrotising fasciitis?

Commonly known as flesh-eating disease, necrotising fasciiti is an infection that results in the death of the body’s soft tissue

Typically, the infection enters the body through a break in the skin such as a cut or burn.

Symptoms include blisters, fever, fatigue and pain worse than a person would expect based on the wound’s appearance.

If treatment doesn’t begin quickly, patients, particularly those with a weaker immune system, are at high risk of amputation or death.

Sufferers must be treated immediately to prevent a loss of limbs or organ failure, and are usually given powerful antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue.