Man lost entire ARM after being beaten by fun-loving puppy

The victim,

A man lost his entire right arm after being nipped on the hand by his puppy. Michael Cole, 40, became a victim of sepsis within hours of being bitten by his puppy, Harley.Poison got into his blood stream and by the next morning his hand was swollen and he was acting delusional.

Michael and wife Ffyona, 43, say the National Health Service (NHS) missed several chances to realise the seriousness of his illness.

He eventually slipped into a life-threatening condition and spent two weeks on a life-support machine.

Doctors were forced to amputate his arm below his shoulder to save his life.

Michael, a bank worker, in an interview said: "It all came from a little accidental bite by our puppy who tried to grab food from my plate and my hand got there first.

"Now I'm disabled for life."

The couple is suing the NHS alleging Michael should have been diagnosed sooner.

They claim a doctor in Christchurch, Dorset, would not make a home visit and a nurse who called on the phone refused to give him antibiotics.

He was given anti-sickness tablets instead, they claim. But when Michael's condition deteriorated they called 111 and it wasn't until paramedics arrived that they realised it was sepsis .

Michael has diabetes and an immune condition and claims his surgery should have been aware of his increased vulnerability.

Lawyer Rebecca Brown, of Irwin Mitchell who is representing Michael, said: "We have numerous cases where patients have not been started on treatment soon enough."