A Nigerian man based in London, Olubiyi Jibowu, has shared his harrowing experience after a simple home pedicure went terribly wrong, resulting in the loss of his left leg.
Olubiyi, 57, soaked his feet in hot water mixed with Himalayan salt, not realizing the temperature was dangerously high. When he pulled his feet out, he discovered severe burns and blisters but opted not to seek medical attention. Instead, he treated himself with Dettol antiseptic, believing it would promote healing — a method he said was passed down from his mother.
“It was pain I can’t even describe,” he recalled. “I’m a big guy, but it was just too much. The skin shrivelled and tore apart. It turned black, and I could see fragments of my bone.”
Unbeknownst to him, Olubiyi had type 2 diabetes, which dulled his ability to feel pain. As a result, he underestimated the severity of the injury and continued walking three miles daily to work while his wound worsened.
Eventually, the untreated injury developed into a deadly infection — sepsis. By the time he showed the foot to his employer, it was too late. He was rushed to King’s Hospital in London, where doctors warned the sepsis could spread to his organs. Despite intense antibiotic treatments, there was no improvement.
“I was in a state of shock when the doctors said they had to amputate. I kept asking, ‘Isn’t there a plan B?’” he said.
On August 8, 2023, doctors performed a below-the-knee amputation to save his life. Although the operation relieved his excruciating pain, it marked the beginning of a long road to physical and emotional recovery.
Now, Olubiyi is raising funds for a titanium prosthetic leg to help him regain independence and return to a normal life.
His story is a powerful reminder of the dangers of self-treatment and the importance of seeking professional help for injuries — especially for individuals with undiagnosed conditions like diabetes.
“It’s really important to get it checked out as soon as you see anything that’s bloody or an open wound,” he said. “The doctors have specific antibiotics, and it’s much better to let a specialist handle it.”
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