“He was just here for vacation, and what it has turned to is tragedy,” said Jeffmarey Pareja.
Her father Terry Pareja from the Philippines got both his legs amputated after getting a horrifying flesh-eating infection during his vacation in The Land Down Under.
“It’s eating him alive, literally,” Jeffmarey said.
The 65-year-old victim was visiting his relatives in the town of Birchip when he became sick and was later admitted to the hospital. He was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, a disease that attacks the flesh, and could potentially be lethal.
“The family believes Mr. Pareja’s bug was caused by a spider bite, but doctors have said this link is not supported by evidence,” says a report by BBC.
“The insect that bit him was very poisonous. He was rushed to the nearest hospital which was in Horsham Hospital where his right leg was cut off immediately,” wrote Jeffmarey on a GoFundMe campaign meant to help the family cover the growing hospitalization expenses.
Alfred is now staying in the ICU of The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. His two kidneys are no longer working, and is aided by kidney support.
According to the Daily Telegraph, he might lose both his arms too.
It could take as long as 18 months before he gets home.
Pareja’s crowdfunding campaign has reached almost USD37,000 of its USD100,000 goal.
