Birmingham mechanic who lost limbs from blood poisoning can work again with bionic arm


  • Mark Camamile, 33, was taken to Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital
  • Diagnosed with sepsis – or blood poisoning – and put in an induced coma 
  • Awoke to discover both legs and his right hand had been  amputated
  • Given the state-of-the-art equipment after workmates raised £27,000 

Kate Pickles For Mailonline

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A mechanic who lost limbs to a life-threatening illness has received a state-of-the-art bionic arm after his workmates raised £27,000.

Mark Camamile, 33, had both legs and right hand amputated after contracting the blood poisoning infection, septicaemia, which he originally mistook for flu.

The father-of-two was taken to hospital in October last year when his lips began to turn blue.

He passed out and was placed in a medically induced coma.

When he awoke four weeks later at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, he was given the devastating news both of his legs had been amputated below the knees and he’d lost an arm.

Mark Camamile, pictured with his mother Joy (left) and wife Wendy (right) was fitted with a new bionic hand after workmates raised £27,000 for him

But now he has been given the tools to regain some of his independence after he received a bionic hand – capable of imitating some of the most delicate grips and finger movements.

It took work colleagues at BMW just five days to raise enough money for the popular mechanic to receive the custom-made prosthetic.

‘It’s still really surreal, it’s not really sunk in yet. It’s truly amazing how wonderful people are.

‘It’s just going to let me have my independence back – I am just so grateful to everyone that’s helped me.’

Mr Camimile, from Nottingham, was a fit and healthy man before he developed on October 1 last year.

The life-threatening condition can be triggered by any kind of infection, as simple as a tummy bug or a sore throat.

The body’s immune system over-reacts to the initial infection, attacking its own tissues and organs.

Mark Camamile, pictured with his fifteen-year-old son Kealen and seven-year-old daughter Chloe in hospital.  He had both legs and right hand amputated after contracting the blood poisoning infection septicaemia

The infection ravaged Mr Camomile’s body and he awoke from an induce coma to discover surgeons had amputated both legs below the knee and his right hand

He has had his bionic hand for just a day but has already learned how to shake hands

Caught in time, it can be successfully treated with antibiotics, but even doctors struggle to recognise the symptoms.

THE WARNING SIGNS OF SEPSIS 

Sepsis, also referred to as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is a potentially life-threatening condition, triggered by an infection or injury.

In sepsis, the body’s immune system goes into overdrive as it tries to fight an infection.

This can reduce the blood supply to vital organs such as the brain, heart and kidneys.

Without quick treatment, sepsis can lead to multiple organ failure and death. 

Early symptoms of sepsis may include:

  • a high temperature (fever) or low body temperature
  • chills and shivering
  • a fast heartbeat
  • fast breathing

In some cases, symptoms of more severe sepsis or septic shock (when your blood pressure drops to a dangerously low level) develop soon after. These can include:

  • feeling dizzy or faint
  • a change in mental state, such as confusion or disorientation
  • diarrhoea
  • ausea and vomiting
  • slurred speech
  • severe muscle pain
  • severe breathlessness
  • less urine production than normal (for example, not urinating for a day)
  • cold, clammy and pale or mottled skin
  • loss of consciousness

Severe sepsis and septic shock are medical emergencies. If you think that you or someone in your care has one of these conditions, call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Source: NHS Choices 

Untreated, sepsis will quickly start to kill off tissue and the organs, which can result in amputations and even death.

Mr Camimile, who is learning to use prosthetic limbs, said the arm was ‘beyond incredible’. 

‘I’ve been playing around with the hand and can’t believe how well I’ve taken to it,’ he said.

‘The whole of my forearm is carbon fibre and the hand is mechanical.

‘It’s taken two sessions previously of making a mould – everything has gone like clockwork today.

‘There are different patterns on here and I’ve been messing around with a pencil as well as other bits and bobs.

‘It’s all brand new to me. I’ve been playing with it and seeing what I can do.’

The ‘bebionic 4’ bionic arm has individual motors in each finger allowing a grip movement, with microprocessors which control the position of each finger.

As well as a number of different grip patterns it also has speed controls allowing users to perform delicate and robust movements.

Small rechargeable batteries power Mr Camamile’s bebionic hands and wrists. He operates the prosthesis using muscle contraction.

His wife Wendy, 32, said it will change his life.

‘We’re just thrilled for Mark,’ she said.

‘It’s going to help so much just to get back to normality and function, it’s going to be so good for him.’ 

The hand was fitted by Abdo Haidar, consultant prosthetist and director of the London Prosthetic Centre.

He said: ‘Mark will now have to strengthen his upper limb muscles again to be able to use the bebionic on a daily basis. 

‘Mark is already able to pick up things such as a pencil or cup and we expect that Mark will learn to use all the different grip functions very quickly.’ 

His wife, Wendy, said the new limb will change his life and thanked people for the generous donations after workmates raised £27,000 in a single working week

 

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