A victim of the deadly flesh-eating bacteria that is surging in southern US states is sharing the harrowing details of his ordeal — as well as some stomach-churning photos.
Officials along the Gulf Coast in Florida and Louisiana are warning about a rise in cases of Vibrio vulnificus, the deadliest species of Vibrio bacteria, which can cause severe and life-threatening infections resulting.
At least 28 cases have been reported this year — but in 2025, Ben West was among those infected. A 38-year-old dad, he is now awaiting amputation of his left leg after he says doctors already “cut the meat, cut the tissue” of his leg to try to preserve it.
West was fishing in Port St. Joe, Florida in late August 2025, and knew enough about the risks to wear tall boots — but that ultimately wasn’t enough to protect him. In fact, those boots rubbed a raw spot around his ankle, he told NewsNation. That’s where the bacteria took hold.
“Benjamin began complaining of serious burning in his foot and ankle and it began to swell terribly,” his wife Janie West wrote on GoFundMe, where she has also shared several photos of his leg throughout the illness. “It was the worst pain he’s ever felt and he kept telling me his leg felt to be on fire.”
He underwent six surgeries in attempts to save his leg.
“They go in with a laser, and they cut the meat, cut the tissue out to try to get ahead of the bacteria because there’s nothing to stop,” he said.
After some improvement, though, the wounds were reopening and leaving “holes” up and down the infected area.
His leg swelled to up to eight time the size of the right one, and he complained of constant burning and aching. His wife said it felt like “electric shocks” throughout the day.
West finally decided to get the leg amputated below the knee, which his wife said will happen this week.
What is Vibrio vulnificus?
This bacteria thrives in coastal waters and can enter the body through an open wound, which is what happened to West. But most people get it by eating raw shellfish, particularly oysters, according to the CDC.
Florida has historically had the most cases of Vibrio vulnificus in the country. This year, 14 people in the state were infected, and two people died. Last year, it killed five.
An infection can cause the flesh around the wound to die (called necrotizing fasciitis), giving the bacteria its “flesh-eating” reputation.
It quickly becomes fatal if it enters the blood stream, where it can cause skin lesions, fever, chills, and dangerously low blood pressure.
The bacteria multiply in salt and brackish water (where salt and fresh water meet) during the warmer months.
Ben West’s story
West went to the hospital two days after that fateful fishing trip, but he was misdiagnosed with cellulitis. He was prescribed antibiotics for cellulitis — but not the ones needed to treat his Vibrio infection.
By the next day, he’d declined “extremely fast,” his wife wrote. He was “at death’s doorstep,” put on a ventilator, and went through three surgeries over the next few days to try to remove the infected tissue.
Doctors said things were going well. By September 2025, they told West they wouldn’t have to amputate. They moved forward with skin grafts to cover the lost flesh.
“Ben has over 300+ staples along with stitches holding the skin graft in place,” his wife wrote.
Over the next few months, West went through more surgeries to remove all the fluid that accumulated, physical therapy, and countless painful wound dressings to heal his leg.
After ten months, West started to feel like he was at a “standstill” with healing.
“He said the pain he suffers from day-to-day here recently is not even comparable to the pain in the beginning — it’s worse,” Janie West wrote.
“From the shoes, the pain, to the size, smell, and doctors’ visits, to buying and changing bandages, it has always taken over an hour in all to unwrap, clean the leg then rewrap it, every single day.”
He decided to consult with a surgeon to remove the leg from the knee down. Meanwhile, wounds that were previously closed were opening and “holes” were appearing along his leg.
As of the last update, they planned to do the amputation this week.
“He’s so ready to be out of so much pain,” she wrote. “He’s feels his quality of life will absolutely improve once he becomes completely mobile again! But for now we are just taking this day by day.”
Avoid Vibrio by cooking all shellfish and being careful around shells and washing your hands after handling them. Stay out of the seawater or brackish water, especially if you have any broken skin or cuts. If you get in the water with a wound, wash it immediately.
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