Strep A bacteria explained as man was told he needed both legs amputated after burning his thumb

A man from Colorado had both of his legs amputated after contracting strep A bacteria.

Max Armstrong, 40, was on a camping trip in Kiowa, US, when he burnt his thumb on a skillet while cooking dinner in December 2024.

Not thinking anything of it at first, within a few days his left leg began to swell up and his toenails started to turn purple.

Six days later, he was taken to the AdventHealth Parker emergency room and his eyes rolled back in his head.

Doctors told Max's family there was a chance he might not make it (SWNS)

Max had both of his legs amputated two days before Christmas

On 23 December, he underwent a three-hour operation to have both of his legs amputated, later spending a month in hospital recovering.

The Franktown resident is now learning how to live in a wheelchair with the help of his wife Megan, 42.

"I grabbed a skillet wrong and my thumb touched the hot part, I could feel it burning as I moved it to the table but I didn't want to drop it," he explained.

"I didn't think much of it as I have gotten burns, scrapes and cuts from living in the outdoors and being outdoors my whole life.

"After dinner, I cleaned up the burn, put a bandage on it and left it.

"Sadly, dinner was enough for the burn to get strep A."

Max will now rely on a wheelchair for the rest of his life (SWNS)

What is strep A bacteria?

Strep A is a common type of bacteria and 'most infections are mild and easily treated, but some are more serious', the NHS says.

Well, doctors confirmed that he had contracted strep A bacteria, which had gotten into his burn mark, quickly developing into sepsis.

When Max woke up from a six day coma on 13 December, his feet were completely black.

Sadly, doctors informed the businessman that he would need to have them amputated due to a severe case of sepsis, which can happen when the bacteria spreads into the bloodstream and causes widespread tissue damage.

In Max's case, the amount of tissue damage meant limb removal was recommended to prevent further life-ending complications.

Max was told that his legs would be impossible to save (SWNS)

Last month, Max went to the Sky Ridge Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Lone Tree where he began the process of learning how to be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

Max said: "Initially when I woke up, I thought my legs were still there and then I came to realise that they weren't.

"I felt down my leg and realised that my legs weren't there, I asked the nurse and she confirmed that I had my legs amputated.

"She told me that my family was waiting for me and kept on reminding me of them which anchored me."

On his recovery process, Max added: "They give you physical rehabilitation three times a day every day.

"There is a lot of triceps work and shoulder exercises.

"Now I am in a wheelchair my shoulder and triceps are my lifeline."

You can donate to Max's GoFundMe here.