A BUILDER who nearly died after flesh-eating bacteria caused multiple-organ failure is finally learning to walk again.
The 47-year-old thought he was suffering with the flu when he began to feel unwell, but within days he had lost all feeling in his limbs and they began to turn black.
Doctors said he had zero chance of survival as his organs began to shut down as a result of the flesh-eating bug.
And as he lay lifeless in hospital, septicaemia set in and medics were forced to remove all of his limbs to save him.
But somehow John came back fighting against all the odds. And now the keen horticulturist is learning to walk again after being fitted with life-changing prosthetic legs.
The quadruple amputee hopes to soon be able to tend to his beloved garden in Southampton, Hants, where he lives his partner and full-time carer Rose.
John said: "It's been a long journey and I wouldn't have got through this without Rose – she's been my rock.
"After the operation I just couldn't move at all. I looked down and I saw I had no arms and legs. I thought 'what's happened to me?'
"The doctor came over and said they had to amputate to save my life.
"I saw Rose soon after and we were both in tears.
"I thought 'what now? Why me?' I never sat around not doing anything in my life.
"I was the sort of bloke who wished for 27 hours in a day and always had something on my shoulder, lifting something heavy for someone.
"Suddenly it was all over.
"It was very hard at first. I lost my dignity but then something just changed. I said to Rose 'come on girl, let's do this, let's bring it on together.'"
John had returned home from a day at work in July 2012 when he first began feeling unwell with flu-like symptoms.
But two days later he could barely stand as he lost all feeling in his hands.
Within hours, a purple rash had begun to spread over his body, while his limbs turned black and filled with fluid.
Doctors worked around the clock to find out the cause of his condition but they were baffled by his symptoms.
The mystery bug, which was eating away at him, continued to ravage his body and four weeks later doctors were forced to remove his forearms and legs.
His partner and mum-of-two Rose, 42, who cares for John around the clock, said: "It was absolutely heart breaking.
"One minute he had a bit of a cold and the next thing, he's having this major surgery.
"I spent every day by his bedside, I couldn't bear to be away from him. I had to be strong but I cried my tears when I got home at night.
"It was unbearable to see him suffering and this was made worse by the fact that even the doctors had no clue what was wrong.
"It looked like someone had laid him flat on the floor and about ten people had been jumping on him.
"Doctors were baffled and were coming from everywhere. They said they were doing everything they could for him but he was likely to die.
"I was in a state of disbelief. I felt absolutely devastated, numb, I had to see him.
Despite facing death more than four times and enduring 26 medical procedures, John has survived and is on the road to recovery.
And in January he finally received some prosthetic legs, so he no longer has to rely on an electric chair to get around.
He is also adjusting to his prosthetic forearms and hands, which enable him to hold onto things and support himself.
She said: "They would make such a big difference to John as he is having a hard time adjusting to the ones he has.
"It's been a very difficult time but I'd do anything for John. I love him to bits.
"I know it's hard for him and he gets frustrated sometimes. He misses being active, but we're both just glad he is still here.
"He's still got his sense of humour and that's what keeps us going. He means the world to me."
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