“I Lost My Leg After a Simple Pedicure at Home” – Nigerian Man Shares Shocking Ordeal
A Nigerian man has issued a heart-wrenching warning after a routine home pedicure spiraled into a life-altering medical emergency.
Olubiyi Jibowu, a 57-year-old addiction support worker based in London, never imagined a relaxing foot soak could cost him his leg. In a bid to pamper himself, he added Himalayan salt to a footbath, unaware that the water temperature was dangerously high.
“I didn’t realise how hot the water was until I pulled my feet out and saw angry blisters all over them,” Olubiyi recounted.
Instead of seeking medical help, Olubiyi tried to treat the burns himself using Dettol, a common household antiseptic. Unfortunately, the wounds worsened, his skin kept peeling, and his foot began turning black.
“I kept pouring Dettol on it because that’s what my mum used to do. I thought I was doing the right thing,” he explained.
What Olubiyi didn’t know was that he had type 2 diabetes, which made it harder for him to feel pain — and more vulnerable to infections.
He continued walking three miles to work every day, unaware that his injury had developed into sepsis, a potentially fatal infection. When he finally showed his foot to his boss, she immediately urged him to go to the hospital.
“My sister could hear the pain in my voice. My skin was literally falling off,” he said.
At King’s Hospital in London, doctors pumped him with antibiotics but warned the infection was spreading fast. Eventually, they delivered the devastating news: amputation was the only option.
On August 8, 2023, just weeks after the incident, Olubiyi underwent surgery to amputate his left leg below the knee.
“I was in shock. I kept asking, ‘Isn’t there a plan B?’ But it was either lose the leg or lose my life,” he shared.
Though the procedure ended his pain, it left him with a new reality — learning to walk again with a prosthetic.
Today, Olubiyi is focused on staying positive and spreading awareness.
“If I had known I was diabetic, if I had gotten medical help earlier, all this could’ve been avoided.”
He is currently raising funds for a lighter, high-quality titanium prosthetic leg to regain his independence and mobility.
Call-to-Action:
If you’d like to support Olubiyi’s recovery journey, keep an eye on his crowdfunding campaign or share his story to raise awareness about the hidden risks of diabetes and untreated wounds.