The intervention of a concerned hotel manager may well have saved the life of an Irishman from a deadly flesh eating infection.

Ben Whiteside, 25, from Carryduff, Co Down and his girlfriend Anneka Shally were taking ‘the scenic route’ back home for Christmas from Hong Kong and Chine (where they were vteaching) and were travelling in Laos in South East Asia when they were both scratched. Ben’s innocuous scratch started to turn and laterit emerged that he had fallen victim to the highly dangerous and rare flesh eating infection Necrotising Fasciitis.

Anneka told the story to Anton, and it makes for very interesting listening, particularly where she says the hospital in Laos could not do anything for Ben, who literally who had hours to live. Then, a hotel manager Anneka had tried to get some bedding off intervened, and Ben was then brought to Bangkok where he received treatment for just in time. He’s now recovering in hospital and hopes to be home in Northern Ireland soon.

Because of spiraling costs of the treatment the couple set up a GO FUND ME campaign to treat and repatriate him. So far the treatment has all been paid for on credit  cards. You can donate here 

The damage done to Ben Whiteside's leg last week. He is hoping to be home later this week.