Man says he nearly died after contracting flesh-eating bacteria

A Georgia man says he contracted a flesh-eating bacteria during a family vacation to Florida — and nearly died.

Tony Meredith told WDHN that he began to experience flu-like symptoms about five days after he got home to Colquitt, Ga., from his annual trip to Panama City Fla., earlier this month.

A nurse practitioner first thought it was a kidney infection — until Meredith’s leg began to turn purple.

Last week, Meredith said a doctor at Southeast Health diagnosed him with the serious bacterial infection, necrotizing fasciitis.

The bacteria seeped into a barely noticeable scratch below Meredith’s knee while he was in Florida waters, according to the outlet.

Doctors gave Meredith antibiotics to kill the infection.

“I almost lost my leg or my life,” Meredith said.

“Anybody that’s going to the beach, they need to really, really be real cautious before getting in the sand or the water,” he said. “I never thought it would happen to me.”

The same infection Meredith contracted, claimed the life of 56-year-old Gary Evans of Texas this month.

A Memphis man, Dave Bennett, died 48 hours after being infected while visiting Destin a popular Gulf of Mexico beach spot in Florida, his daughter said this month.

Lynn Fleming, of Florida, also died after getting a flesh-eating bacteria from an innocent-seeming cut on her leg at the beach, her family said in June.

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