A newly released documentary on Prime Video, An Amputation Obsession: The Monster and the Surgeon, examines the case of Neil Hopper, a former NHS vascular surgeon who was arrested after it was revealed he orchestrated the amputation of his own legs and fraudulently claimed over £466,000 in insurance payouts.
Hopper had been celebrated as a hero after returning to work following the amputation of both legs, which he attributed to a mystery illness. However, investigations uncovered that his amputations were self-inflicted, tied to his involvement with an underground network devoted to extreme body modifications.
Unearthed BBC Footage
As the documentary hits screens, an unearthed clip from Hopper's 2020 appearance on BBC Breakfast has resurfaced, showing him at work in the hospital. The clip, shared on Facebook with the caption, "Surgeon Neil Hopper, who has amputated thousands of limbs during his career, has returned to work after having both of his legs removed. He shares his incredible story..." captures him discussing a routine operation.
In the footage, Hopper admits to feeling "nervous" about returning to work after his own surgery. He also explains how he came to have his limbs amputated, stating he had contracted a mystery illness. He said: "I looked down and I could see that my feet were blue. I woke up after the operation and I couldn't quite work out if they'd done it or not. You know, I've done this operation hundreds, maybe thousands of times, I never knew what it was like."
Public Reaction and Hidden Truth
At the time, Hopper was widely praised. One commenter said: "Amazing that he has taken his amputation as a positive experience rather than losing hope! A brilliant surgeon and I wish him luck in his journey." Another wrote: "Amazing man who will be able to really relate to his patients through his own misfortune and health problems. So positive a person having been through so much."
Hopper also maintained a YouTube channel where he shared videos about his recovery, including discussions of "phantom pain." Yet, after years of claiming a mystery illness led to sepsis, it was revealed that his injuries were self-inflicted. He had paid for access to EnuchMaker, a website selling videos of extreme body modifications, and later fraudulently claimed insurance payouts exceeding £466,000.
Documentary Details
The true crime special delves into how detectives uncovered the full extent of Hopper's crimes. An Amputation Obsession: The Monster and the Surgeon is available to stream on Prime Video.
