A 52-year-old woman in the United Kingdom has survived a life-threatening battle with sepsis that led to the amputation of all four limbs, in a case doctors believe may have been triggered by a dog licking a minor cut.
Manjit Sangha was found unresponsive at home in July 2025 by her husband, Kamaljit, who said she was “slumped on the sofa, lips blue, hands and feet ice cold.” She was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with septic shock complicated by Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC), a rare condition that causes abnormal blood clotting throughout the body.
A rapid decline
According to family statements, her condition deteriorated within days. She was placed in an induced coma, put on life support and dialysis, and suffered six cardiac arrests while in intensive care.
As infection spread, surgeons were forced to amputate both legs below the knee and both hands. Her spleen was also removed as she battled pneumonia and other complications.
Doctors believe bacteria may have entered her bloodstream after her dog licked a small wound — though investigations remain clinical rather than conclusive.
Understanding sepsis
Sepsis occurs when the body’s immune system overreacts to infection, damaging its own tissues and organs. The UK Sepsis Trust estimates that around 50,000 people die from sepsis annually in the UK.
Common symptoms include confusion, extreme shivering, breathlessness, mottled skin and reduced urine output. Early treatment with antibiotics and supportive care significantly improves survival chances.
A warning and recovery
After spending 32 weeks in hospital, Manjit was discharged in February 2026. She has since urged people not to ignore symptoms, saying, “It can happen to anybody. It’s very serious and not to be taken lightly.”
Her family has raised funds for advanced prosthetics and sepsis awareness. Despite the trauma, she has expressed determination to walk again and return to work.
Medical experts stress that while such cases are rare, proper wound hygiene and early medical attention for infections remain essential preventive measures.