In December 2022, Levi Dewy, a young British football fan, begins to experience a high fever, fatigue and loss of appetite. As the holidays approach, he thinks of a harmless seasonal virus. “I just felt exhausted, I thought it was the flu.” he remembers.
The young man suffers from pneumococcal pneumonia
But these familiar symptoms hide a more serious reality. Levi suffers from sepsis, an uncontrolled inflammatory reaction of the body to an infection.
In a few days, his condition worsened dangerously. “I don’t know if it was mom’s intuition, but at that moment her breathing wasn’t right.” confides his mother, Laura, Mirror.
Transported to hospital, the young man was diagnosed with pneumococcal pneumonia. His organs begin to function less well. “We had no idea what sepsis was or how serious it was.” she adds. “But when I saw him in that hospital bed, his complexion mottled and his legs blue, I understood that the situation was dramatic.”
Doctors amputate his legs to save his life
Faced with the emergency, Levi is placed in an artificial coma and connected to an extracorporeal oxygenation machine (ECMO). His chances of survival do not exceed 30%. Two days before his birthday, doctors decided to amputate both of his legs below the knees to save his life.
When Levi wakes up, Christmas has passed. “It was like my life had turned upside down” he confides. “I relied on my family to explain to me what had happened. Everything was blurry”.
Coming home was also difficult. “I couldn’t change on my own, or even sit up. Since I lost my feet, I had to relearn how to drive with my hands” he explains courageously.
Now aged 23, he measures how far he has come. “I’m so grateful to be here, but I’ve had to come to terms with the idea of living without my legs.”
Sepsis, a little-known vital emergency
For Dr. Gérald Kierzek, emergency physician and medical director of True Medical, Levi’s case reminds us of the importance of acting quickly. “Sepsis is a generalized infection that can lead to septic shock and organ failure. The earlier treatment is given, the more the spread of infection is limited.” he says.
The danger, according to him, lies in the speed of progression of this infection. “This type of sepsis can very quickly affect internal organs such as the lungs, kidneys or heart.
What are the symptoms that should alert you?
The following signs should never be overlooked, according to Dr. Gérald Kierzek:
- A high fever or, conversely, an abnormally low temperature;
- A fast heartbeat (tachycardia);
- Accelerated breathing (tachypnea);
- A drop in blood pressure.
“As soon as we observe a rapid worsening after an infection or injury, we must react immediately” warns Dr. Kierzek. “In sepsis, the first three hours are crucial to saving the person, what we call the “golden hours”. Each hour of delay in the administration of antibiotics increases mortality. Faced with these signs, you must consult urgently. Your speed of action can save your life or that of your loved ones.”
Why might sepsis require amputation?
In the most severe cases, like Levi’s, sepsis causes widespread vasodilation and significant edema. “To maintain blood pressure, vasoconstrictor drugs, mainly norepinephrine, must be administered, which redirect blood to vital organs. explains the emergency doctor.
But this survival mechanism can also reduce blood circulation in the limbs, causing ischemia or even necrosis, which sometimes makes amputation inevitable.
Vaccination against pneumococcus, essential prevention
The bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniaeresponsible for numerous serious infections (pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia), remains one of the main causes of death in children under 5 years old and adults over 65 years old.
This is why the High Authority for Health (HAS) updated its recommendations in January 2025: vaccination against pneumococcal infections is now extended to all adults aged 65 and over, as well as to people at risk.
This injection, carried out in a single dose, can be carried out at the same time as vaccination against influenza and Covid-19.
FAQ – Sepsis: warning signs
How to differentiate a simple virus from the beginnings of sepsis?
Rapid worsening after an infection should be cause for concern. A high fever, racing heart rate, or labored breathing are warning signs. According to Dr. Kierzek, the key is speed: if the condition deteriorates within a few hours, you should immediately consult the emergency room.Why can sepsis lead to amputation?
The body redirects blood to vital organs to survive. The limbs, less irrigated, can then suffer ischemia. If circulation does not return, the tissues die. Amputation sometimes becomes the only way to avoid widespread failure.Can sepsis be prevented?
Yes in part, thanks to vaccination and vigilance. Vaccination against pneumococcus, expanded since 2025, protects against a common cause of sepsis. Also monitor any infections that get worse quickly: early diagnosis and treatment can save your life.