A dad who lost his penis to a horrific blood infection has become the first man in the world to have a new one built... on his arm.
Malcolm MacDonald, 45, was even given an extra two inches (winner winner) by surgeons - but a series of delays mean he has lived with it on his limb for four years.
Advert
Malcolm, a mechanic, is desperate for his £50,000 ($65k) NHS-funded appendage - which he has nicknamed 'Jimmy' - to be finally transferred to where it should be.
But he can still see the funny side of having it dangling from his arm and is in awe of the medics who helped turned his life around.
He said: "Of course it is mad - having a penis on your arm. That they can make me a new penis at all is incredible - but that they can build it on my arm is mind-blowing.
Advert
"It looks like something out of a weird sci-fi comic. But it's my chance at a normal life. It's been the first step towards being able to go to the toilet and even being intimate with someone."
Malcolm was shocked when a long-term perineum infection developed into sepsis, turning his fingers, toes and penis black.
He was 'completely gutted' when his manhood fell off in 2014, though his testicles remained intact.
Describing the moment, he said: "I knew deep down it was gone and I was going to lose it. Then one day it just dropped off on to the floor. I just picked it up and put it in the bin.
Advert
"I went to the hospital and they said the best they could do for me was to roll the remaining stump up like a little sausage roll. It was heartbreaking."
Dad-of-two Malcolm, of Thetford, Norfolk, said his 'life really fall apart' due to his lack of confidence.
Malcolm's GP then told him about the 'penis master', Professor David Ralph, an expert in phallus construction at London's University College Hospital.
Excited Malcolm was given a referral and recalled: "It gave me a glimmer of hope that I could go back to being a normal bloke."
Advert
Prof Ralph explained the arm-graft procedure, and told him it would take up to two years, which Malcolm was happy with.
Malcolm went on: "As far as I was concerned, they were miracle workers and I was up for anything that could give me my willy back.
"For me I was never worried about sex, because I already had two children. It was always more about my self-confidence and simple things like using the loo."
Right-handed Malcolm had a skin flap taken from his left arm and rolled to form a 'penis', with its own blood vessels and nerves.
Advert
Surgeons created a urethra and installed two tubes inflated with a hand-pump, allowing him to have a 'mechanical' erection.
The shaft was then detached from his forearm, leaving the base, allowing it to dangle. It then could form naturally as skin and tissue.
Malcolm said: "When I saw it on my arm for the first time I was so, so proud.
"I took to it so much I nicknamed it 'Jimmy' - that was what me and my mates called each other growing up and this penis was definitely my new mate."
Explaining the delay, a UCHL spokeswoman said: "We understand this is a distressing situation for Mr MacDonald. We will try to rearrange his surgery as soon we are able now that services are gradually returning closer to normal following lockdown.
"Unfortunately, there were delays before lockdown because Mr MacDonald missed or cancelled some appointments. We offered him four dates for surgery, one of which we had to postpone by a week but the other occasions he cancelled or did not attend.
"Mr MacDonald told us he had some issues with patient transport. This transport, however, was not oranised by UCLH. We understand this must have been frustrating for him."
Featured Image Credit: Louis Wood/The Sun