Koalaboi Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 (edited) Hi Raiders, Be careful. SMH Sunday6/12/09 Koalaoi. Killer bugs lurking in harbour BEN CUBBY AND DAVID LOCKWOOD December 6, 2009 Fortunate escape... Des Toms survived the infection he caught near the Roseville boat ramp but at a cost. Photo: Helen Nezdropa ONE man lost two toes and another had part of a foot removed after they contracted a flesh-eating organism in waters near a popular Sydney boat ramp. Fishing guide Des Toms said that he had nearly died from a staph infection after wading barefoot near the Roseville boat ramp on Middle Harbour. He eventually lost two toes on his left foot after the bug entered his system through a tiny cut underneath a toe last year. Health authorities said they had received several reports of serious staph infections contracted around Sydney Harbour in 2008. But NSW Health said it had no breakdown on how many become ill from water-borne bacteria. Mr Toms suspects his infection was probably from decaying fish carcasses thrown into the water by recreational anglers using a fish-cleaning table near the ramp. "I had been out fishing," said Mr Toms, 51. "The water was crystal clear at the ramp and I thought I'd walk about with bare feet." The next day, he noticed a purple tinge to his foot, then a dull ache in his calf muscle. He took photographs of his leg to record his rapidly changing condition. "I though it might be deep-vein thrombosis, so I showed someone," he said. "They pointed out my foot had turned purple around the sole as well." He went to a GP, who diagnosed it as a common infection and prescribed antibiotics. But the infection rapidly crept up his leg. "I was in the emergency department fighting for my life and leg as the flesh-eating Staphylococcus bug took hold," he said. "Miraculously, they saved my leg but I lost two toes. I'm now being fitted for new shoes and have been told to keep away from the water and fishing." In hospital, Mr Toms heard of another man who had his leg amputated due to a staph infection caught at the Roseville ramp. In March, Murray Player, 70, of North Curl Curl, died from septic shock after wading in bacteria-infested water in Manly lagoon. Manly Council has since erected warning signs there, but there is no sign at Roseville boat ramp. A NSW Health spokesman said there were no statistics on Staphylococcus infections from bacteria in waterways. There were 1340 cases from all sources treated in NSW hospitals last year. The NSW Environment Department's last annual report noted water in Sydney Harbour was gradually becoming cleaner. Mr Toms said he suspected the low tidal flows around Middle Harbour allowed the infection to survive there without being flushed out. He now wanted to warn others of the potential risks. "The average happy-go-lucky office worker walking around Roseville on the weekend with bare feet is at very high risk of catching something awful," he said. "Wear shoes." Edited December 5, 2009 by Koalaboi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hottyscotty Posted December 5, 2009 Share Posted December 5, 2009 thats scary! and considering we're either holding a pair of scissors, knife, hooks and other sharp objects at any one time. the chances of being cut is high. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Gun Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Yikes! Thats not good at all Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juzza Posted December 6, 2009 Share Posted December 6, 2009 Hmm...wonder if i should even go wading at narralakes anymore >..> Flesh eating Staph!!! Theres a good chance they maybe there too...and i did get cut by an oyster shell there last week...though its good there was not any purplish tinge.. Justin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnv Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 makes prawning even scarey now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luderick59 Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 fished narra lakes sunday for 4blackfish but also got bitten about 20 times on the back of my legs from pelican itch so if your fishing the lake in the next few weeks wear waders peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Day's Fishin Posted December 21, 2009 Share Posted December 21, 2009 I'll be launching from roseville over the break so no walking without footware for me as I nearly always get cut somewhere on a fishing trip Regards Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil D Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 things dont look at bthe moment with pollution, you would think it was been cleaned up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gmorris1 Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 i had little bugs chewing on my feet last night at the spit now i'm scared Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew399 Posted December 23, 2009 Share Posted December 23, 2009 Far out thats hectic hey! i normally go to manly lagoon to catch mullet for flatty baits, not sure if il be doing it now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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