Florida man faces leg amputation a year after Vibrio infection
Ben West, who contracted the flesh-eating bacteria Vibrio vulnificus during a fishing trip, will undergo amputation after a year of chronic pain and swelling that made his leg eight times larger than the other.
A Florida father is scheduled for leg amputation after a Vibrio vulnificus infection left his limb severely swollen and painful for more than a year. Ben West contracted the bacteria on Aug. 25, 2025, while fishing in Port St. Joe, when raw skin on his ankle was exposed to seawater. Initial treatment for cellulitis proved ineffective, and his condition rapidly worsened, requiring life-support measures.
The infection caused his leg to swell to eight times its normal size, producing chronic pain described as electric-shock-like sensations and persistent open sores that have not healed. Medical specialists have now advised amputation as the only option to restore quality of life. The procedure is expected within weeks, with a projected hospital stay of one to two days.
West’s wife, Janie West, has been managing daily care for him and their children and has raised funds through a GoFundMe campaign. She emphasized the need for caution around coastal waters, noting that Vibrio naturally occurs in marine environments and can infect open wounds, recent tattoos, or piercings.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that most Vibrio infections stem from consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, but exposure through skin injuries while swimming or wading is also documented. Health officials continue to warn the public about the bacterium’s potential to cause severe tissue damage and, in some cases, limb loss.