Sepsis double amputee's thanks to NHS after 'milestones'

Levi Dewey has relearned to walk after he had the lower parts of his legs amputated just before his 21st birthday

A man who lost the lower parts of both his legs due to sepsis has thanked NHS staff for helping him reach "milestones" during 18 months of physiotherapy.

Levi Dewey, of Willington in Derbyshire, fell ill in December 2022 and had part of both his legs amputated in January 2023.

Mr Dewey has relearned to walk and ride his bike during physiotherapy at the Royal Derby Hospital, and has been able to return to his Pride Park stadium seat to watch Derby County.

The 22-year-old said: "Everyone has gone above and beyond in every department I have been in."

There was joy for Levi in February when he was able to walk back to his seat at Pride Park Stadium

"There’s so many people I could thank, my list would go on endlessly," he added.

Mr Dewey had enjoyed a day out watching football when he started to feel unwell in 2022.

Within days he was rushed to hospital but when his condition deteriorated, he went into septic shock and suffered multiple organ failure.

Mr Dewey was then sent to Glenfield Hospital, in Leicestershire, where he received ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), a life support that oxygenates the heart and the lungs from outside the body so they can rest.

Since then, Mr Dewey has called the Amputee Rehabilitation Centre at the Royal Derby Hospital his second home.

"Not being reliant on other people to get you around places has been a milestone, even small things like getting in and out of a car", said Mr Dewey.

The Rams fan is now hoping to one day be able to walk without needing two sticks.

"I am hoping for no sticks", said Mr Dewey, "but I think in my head at the minute I might always need one.

"Who knows? We have come this far in six months so who knows what will happen in the next year?

"It was great to be back at Pride Park, too. I have definitely missed it big time and going back into my actual seat was great."

'Sickest patient'

Doctors said Levi was the "sickest patient in the country" when he first entered hospital and was given a one-in-three chance of survival.

Ganor Venison, senior physiotherapist at the Royal Derby Hospital, said Levi is a "model patient".

She added: "You have listened and taken on board everything, you have been amazing. It sounds cringey but all of our patients are amazing."

Levi stood with his mum and dad, Neil and Lara Dewey (left) alongside NHS staff, Ganor Venison and Clayton Smith (right)