South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay has returned to Parliament today (May 22) after having his arms up to the elbows and legs up to the knees amputated due to an extreme case of septic shock.
The dad-of-one received a standing ovation from colleagues as he attended Parliament for PMQs. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was “in awe of (Mr Mackinlay’s) incredible resilience” while Labour leader Keir Starmer paid tribute to his “courage and determination” and “deep sense of service.”
The 57-year-old went into septic shock on September 28 last year and, in an interview with GB News yesterday, spoke of how the sepsis caused his organs to fail and, as blood clots formed, his limbs turned black.
Initially taken to Medway Maritime Hospital at the insistence of wife Kati, he was given just a five per cent chance of survival after his condition worsened dramatically and his body went blue from the shock.
In October Mr Mackinlay was moved to St Thomas Hospital in London and on December 1 he had an operation to remove all four limbs.
Speaking to GB News the MP said the limbs were “almost leather, like plastic” as he described “the complete death of my hands and also my feet.”
At Medway Maritime Hospital a do not resuscitate order had been discussed for the father-of-one.
He told GB News: “The price I am going to pay for living is serious disability but we will get over it.”
He added: “The Grim Reaper let me survive but he has taken payment in four limbs, that’s the way it is.”
The sepsis also caused tissue damage to Mr Mackinlay’s gums, face and ear which, he says, will require plastic surgery in the future.
After Christmas Mr Mackinlay was moved to a surgical ward that specialises in limb loss and by the end of January artificial legs had been cast.
In February he left the ward under his own steam, using the prosthetic legs and a frame.
The artificial arms from the NHS are, however, very basic and the MP will now pay some £100,000 for ‘bionic’ prosthetics through a private company.
Mr Mackinlay says he will stand at the next General Election and will aim to raise awareness of sepsis and wants to improve the NHS service to better help multi-limb loss people, saying he considers it his ‘crusade.’.
Craig was supported in the House of Commons’ public gallery by his family and a dozen NHS staff who cared for him at St Thomas’ Hospital and Lambeth Community Care Centre.
After the Chamber session, Mr Mackinlay said: “ As I said in the Chamber, this was a very emotional day for me. I’ve been working throughout much of my treatment but returned to Parliament for the first time today.
“I will work with Ministers from the Prime Minister down, as well as the Sepsis health and charity sectors, to raise awareness of the signs of Sepsis and help improve access to quality prosthetic limbs on the NHS.
“After my near-death experience and quadruple amputations I consider this a crusade.”
North Thanet MP Sir Roger Gale said: “My South Thanet neighbour has shown the greatest possible personal and political courage and it was so good to see his family in the Gallery to witness his return.”
Labour Parliamentary candidate for the new East Thanet constituency Polly Billington said: “I want to extend my heartfelt sympathy to Craig Mackinlay in light of his continued recovery from Sepsis.
“I know Craig is a battler and he has proved it by his survival of this awful ordeal. It serves as a poignant reminder of the indiscriminate nature of health challenges and Craig’s journey underscores the critical role our National Health Service plays in saving lives.
“I commend the tireless efforts of the NHS staff who have played a crucial role in Craig’s treatment, helping him navigate this difficult time. Their dedication, expertise and compassion have undoubtedly contributed to his journey so far.
“His family have gone through an awful ordeal and my heart goes out to his wife Kati and their young daughter.
“Following Craig’s announcement that he is putting himself forward as the Conservative candidate for East Thanet in the upcoming General Election, I want to send my best wishes to Craig and his family. I look forward to the campaign, where we can present our plans for the area and the UK to the people of Thanet.”
County Councillor Karen Constantine, whorepresents Ramsgate, said: “Craig and I have been adversaries for almost a decade, usually disagreeing, often ferociously so, but he has my admiration for his remarkable recovery. I wish him and his family the best.”
Sepsis Trust
According to the UK Sepsis Trust, five people are killed by sepsis every hour in the UK, making it one of the country’s biggest killers.
It arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs. The body’s immune system – which normally helps to protect us and fight infection – goes into overdrive. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and sometimes death, especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Sepsis primarily affects very young children and older adults, and is also more common in people with underlying health conditions, but it can sometimes be triggered in those who are otherwise fit and healthy.
Sepsis always starts with an infection. It is not known why some people develop sepsis in response to common infections whereas others don’t.
Visit the Sepsis Trust website to see how to spot the signs of sepsis at: https://sepsistrust.org/about/about-sepsis/
