31-year-old man tragically died after ignoring warning about swimming after getting a tattoo
Warning: this article contains graphic imagery which some readers may find distressing.
After a 31-year-old man died after ignoring warnings about swimming with a new tattoo, the reason for his death has been revealed.
The unnamed man was holidaying in Mexico, and of course, when you travel, it’s only natural to go for a dip.
However, the man had gotten a new tattoo on his calf just five days prior and was warned about staying away from swimming for approximately two weeks.
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Sadly, the man took a dip in the Gulf and soon began to experience strange symptoms, which led to him losing his life.
It all began when his tattoo area began to swell, went red, and appeared to be bruised.
The man experienced a high fever and chills following the swim and then saw a rash appear near the tattoo.
Then, it split open, revealing the inside of his leg as the condition progressed.
Rushing to a local hospital, the man went on to lose his life after contracting a deadly infection due to entering ocean waters.
He suffered a case of vibrio vulnificus septic shock, which was contracted after bathing in the salty and bacteria filled water.
However, once he was admitted to the hospital, his condition worsened and due to pre-existing health conditions, such as cirrhosis of the liver, the man was particularly vulnerable to infection.
His drinking habits were said to have weakened his immune system, and after being placed on life support, the man’s organs failed and he died just weeks after attending the hospital.
The BMJ report, which documented the man’s case said: "Despite aggressive initial treatment, the patient developed septic shock and died.
"This case highlights the association of chronic liver disease and high mortality associated with infections of V. vulnificus.
"Health providers should remain vigilant for V. vulnificus infections in patients with chronic liver disease and raw oyster ingestion or seawater exposure."
Symptoms of sepsis are notoriously hard to spot, as it’s a fast-acting infection and as it’s a life-threatening reaction to an infection, every minute counts.
If you’re not sure what sepsis is, this is something that happens when your ‘immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body's own tissues and organs.'
Even though it might be hard to spot, according to the NHS, it typically is presented with these main signs:
- acting confused, slurred speech or not making sense
- blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue – on brown or black skin, this may be easier to see on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- a rash that does not fade when you roll a glass over it, the same as meningitis
- difficulty breathing, breathlessness or breathing very fast
According to Healthline, it’s important to wait two weeks before swimming after getting a new tattoo as it can make you more susceptible to infection, such as the flesh eating bacteria that the man suffered from, as well as potentially damaging your ink and irritating your skin.
If in doubt, just wait until it heals.
Britt Jones