Teen 'rebuilding his life' after sepsis surgery

Hamish Wilson has had more operations following amputations to all four limbs after he contracted sepsis

A teenager who lost parts of all four limbs to sepsis says he is now rebuilding his life, including using public transport alone and going to nightclubs.

Hamish Wilson, who is 18 and from Crowborough, East Sussex, was taken ill shortly after starting at Southampton University in October 2024, eventually requiring the amputation of both legs, a hand and the fingers of his remaining hand.

He says he "doesn't see the point in getting really upset about it anymore", after his latest round of surgery.

He says he is enjoying being on his own for the first time in six months.

He told BBC South East he had been upset when he was initially diagnosed, "because I'm human".

"But now it's happened, and nothing's going to change it," he said.

"I think I might as well just deal with it and get on with it as well as I can do.

"I've never really had a panic about being on my own. I hadn't been left on my own for six months, so, this is the best thing ever."

He says his aim has always been to "walk back into university and start again" in September.

• What is sepsis?

• Sepsis and how to spot it

The most recent surgery took place at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital.

Surgeon George Murphy said: "We did liposuction and got rid of some of the bad scars.

"We shaved down a bone that was a bit prominent as well.

He said: "It all went pretty much as planned and we can always come back and do more if necessary."

Rory Wilson says he is impressed by his brother on a daily basis

Hamish's brother, Rory Wilson, has even had a tattoo in his honour.

He said: "I'm daily impressed.

"His life has changed in an unimaginable way and he's been told by different doctors, different people that he shouldn't be doing that, you can't be doing that, and he's just like, 'yeah, well you know'.

Rory said: "He's kind of got that spirit of being a young adult and 'I'm invincible again' and it's just nice to see."

Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.