A CHRISTCHURCH dad who had to have his arm amputated after being nipped on the hand by his puppy is suing the NHS.

Michael Cole claims a five-hour wait for a diagnosis of life-threatening sepsis led to the devastating amputation after an accidental bite from the family’s three-month-old Golden Retriever, Harley.

Mr Cole, who also suffers from diabetes and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), has now instructed solicitors to investigate the care provided by his GP surgery in Dorset.

And he hopes to raise awareness of the seriousness of sepsis.

The 40-year-old dad of one alerted his surgery, which has not been named, in November last year after falling ill following the bite.

According to medical negligence lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, he was denied a home visit and a nurse prescribed anti-sickness medication instead.

When his condition deteriorated later the same day, his wife, Ffyona, called 111 and paramedics were sent to their home. Suspected sepsis was diagnosed and he was taken to the Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital before being transferred to Poole Hospital where medics fought to save his life.

Mr Cole spent a month in hospital where he underwent surgery to amputate his right arm. Due to the spread of infection the amputation had to begin high above the elbow.

He also has an extensive scar on his left arm and hand, a six inch hole in his right leg and damage to his foot where surgeons had to make incisions to wash out the infection. He was on life support for two weeks.

Mr Cole, who works for an investment bank, said: “Becoming an amputee has obviously been life-changing and to know that it may have been prevented just adds to the anger and frustration I feel.

“If failings in my care are identified, lessons should be learned so that no one else suffers as I have.

“I will forever struggle with the small things in life, such as doing buttons up, tying my shoe laces. There’s no turning back the clock.

“I may be able to stop another person from going this if someone is able to recognise this disease. A lot of deaths can be prevented.

“I have got to get through the rest of my life with one arm. It’s not a small thing.”