Austin Hunter’s parents were told to say goodbye to their son after he was rushed to hospital – but he’s now playing sport again after a double amputation
A 13-year-old who thought he had cramp nearly died before having both his legs amputated after doctors told him he had sepsis.
Austin Hunter, from Rusper, West Sussex, started complaining of discomfort last June after he finished a series of sports camps. The teen’s parents Warwick and Holly initially thought the pain was just due to overexertion, but when their son’s resting heart-rate rocketed to 120bpm and his fingertips turned blue they rushed him to A&E.
Austin was admitted to East Surrey Hospital at 6pm and by 10pm his terrified parents were warned he may not make it. Warwick, 44, and Holly, 45, were forced to say goodbye to their son, then 12, as he was placed into an induced coma and rushed to Evelina London Children’s Hospital. It comes after the best and worst GP surgeries across the UK were named – check your area.
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Warwick, a chartered surveyor, said: “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.” Austin was diagnosed with a serious complication of a Strep A infection – where bacteria had made its way into his bloodstream. This led to sepsis and multiple organ failure, with both his liver and kidneys shutting down. Doctors said it would likely be too much for his heart to handle, but Austin, still in a coma, kept fighting and eventually stabilised.
A slow road to recovery began, during which time Austin underwent multiple surgeries. But his left leg, which had turned black, could not be saved – and it was amputated in August.
In December, Austin underwent another operation in the hopes of saving his right leg. However, he was still in severe pain after, and was told his chances of being able to run on his foot were slim. Austin, a keen sportsman, had to consider what he wanted out of life – and decided he would rather become a double amputee if it meant he could play sports again.
Now, the lad has been fitted with prosthetic limbs – and is trying his hand at everything. He has tried rock climbing, wheelchair tennis, wheelchair golf, and is even being trained by former Paralympian Rachel Morris, who won a gold medal for rowing in 2016. Warwick said: “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 said one of the most shocking things about Austin’s illness was the speed with which he deteriorated. This has pushed the family to share his story to raise awareness for sepsis – and get people talking about symptoms and treatment.
He said: “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.
“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 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. 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 terrifying night ensued but by 6am Warwick and Holly were told Austin was no longer “at immediate risk of death”. They both tried to get a short bout 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. The 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.”
Dr Ron Daniels, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at the UK Sepsis Trust, said: “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.”