Woman thought she had a flu. It was a rare-flesh eating disease that left her buttock damaged

The woman endured three surgeries to remove infected tissue and muscle. (Representational)

A Scottish woman considers herself "lucky to be alive" after battling a rare flesh-eating disease that left her with a 20-centimeter deep wound on her buttock. Tracy de Jongh Eglin’s horrifying ordeal began with flu-like symptoms, catapulting her into a life-threatening situation that required immediate medical intervention. Now residing in the Netherlands, Eglin had a long journey through septic shock, multiple surgeries, and a coma.

Eglin, 59, a former event manager and mother of two, first exhibited symptoms on January 20, only to find herself in a hospital five days later, on the brink of septic shock. Describing her condition, she told SWNS, “It looks like a peach that someone has taken a huge bite out of on one side." Doctors identified a black mass on her left buttock, diagnosing her with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening bacterial infection.

The gravity of her situation became evident as Eglin spent nine days in a coma, enduring three surgeries to remove infected tissue and muscle. With a mere 10% chance of survival, her journey defied the odds. Emerging from the coma, she faced the aftermath, including a 70-pound weight loss, learning to walk again, and the ongoing challenge of coping with a colostomy bag.

The cause of the infection remains unclear, with doctors suggesting it could be as simple as an ingrown hair or a spot. Eglin's recount of the harrowing experience includes moments of disorientation, hallucination, and waking up to a catheter, a stoma and a 20-centimeter-deep wound.

Her recovery process involved six weeks in a hospital and additional weeks in a rehabilitation centre, where she underwent physiotherapy, psychotherapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

Eglin urged others to seek medical attention promptly if a severe case of flu takes an unexpected turn.