A father of two has been left with one leg twice the size of the other after contracting an infection from swimming in a canal. Sam McAlpine Peyre, 32, a plumber from Stroud, Gloucestershire, went for a swim in the Stroudwater Navigation Canal with his family in April last year. The following day, he woke up with a high temperature and groin pain, but initially dismissed it and went to work. However, he had to return home hours later feeling unwell.
Within 12 hours, the infection escalated rapidly, causing flu-like symptoms and a severe infection in his left leg. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors prescribed antibiotics. Despite treatment, the infection persisted, and further investigation revealed that the bacteria had entered his bloodstream through a tiny crack in his heel. This triggered lymphoedema, a chronic and incurable condition where the lymphatic system fails to function properly, leading to persistent swelling.
Permanent Damage and Lifestyle Changes
Twelve months on, Sam's left leg remains double the size of his right, forcing him to wear compression bandages and limit physical activity. He can no longer wear shorts and often needs to elevate his leg to alleviate discomfort. His wife, Georgia, is now raising awareness and funds for specialist surgery.
Georgia, who works in marketing, said: 'I'm hoping we can raise enough awareness so it doesn't happen to anyone else. The damage was so significant to his lymphatic system that it completely damaged it beyond repair. It wasn't a cut; it was a tiny, tiny crack in the back of his heel, he didn't even know he had it beforehand.'
Raising Funds for Surgery
The couple is raising £20,000 for private Lymphaticovenous Anastomosis (LVA) surgery, which may help manage the lymphoedema. Georgia urged people not to swim if they have any cuts or wounds, no matter how small.
A spokesperson for the Stroud Valleys Canal Company expressed sadness over the incident and reiterated safety guidelines: 'In the interests of public safety, we would refer anyone who enjoys wild swimming to the rules of the Canal and River Trust, which does not permit unauthorised swimming in its canals. Generally, canals are quite shallow, there are many unseen hazards, and water quality is not suitable for swimming.'
