John Middleditch, 47, of Thornhill, has taken his first steps using prosthetic limbs three years after being told he would not survive a flesh-eating bug

When a mystery flesh eating bug attacked John Middleditch all of his organs began to fail and he lost all feeling in his arms and legs as they turned black.

And as he lay in hospital, septicaemia set in and medics were forced to remove both his forearms and legs to save him.

Yet, against the odds, the quadruple amputee survived – and now he has taken his first proper steps after being fitted with life-changing prosthetic limbs.

As exclusively reported by the Daily Echo, keen horticulturalist John, 47, thought he was suffering with the flu when he began to feel unwell in July 2012.

But within days he had lost all feeling in his limbs as they turned black.

Doctors said he had zero chance of survival as his symptoms rapidly progressed, leading to septicaemia, multiple-organ failure and a desperate fight for his life as doctors removed his arms and legs.

Yet, against the odds, the quadruple amputee survived and he is now able to walk again after being fitted with the prosthetic limbs.

Now he hopes to soon be able to tend to his beloved garden in Thornhill, where he lives with his partner – and now full time carer, Rose.

John said: "It's been a long journey and I wouldn't have got through this without Rose - she's been my rock.

"After the operation I just couldn't move at all. I looked down and I saw I had no arms and legs. I thought 'what's happened to me?'

"The doctor came over and said they had to amputate to save my life.

"I saw Rose soon after and we were both in tears.

"I thought 'what now? Why me?' I never sat around not doing anything in my life. I was the sort of bloke who wished for 27 hours in a day and always had something on my shoulder, lifting something heavy for someone.

"Suddenly it was all over.”

John added "It was very hard at first. I lost my dignity but then something just changed. I said to Rose 'come on girl, let's do this, let's bring it on together.'"

Rose, 42, added: "It was absolutely heart breaking. One minute he had a bit of a cold and the next thing, he's having this major surgery.

"I spent every day by his bedside, I couldn't bear to be away from him. I had to be strong but I cried my tears when I got home at night.

"It was unbearable to see him suffering and this was made worse by the fact that even the doctors had no clue what was wrong.

"From the time he got into that bed in A&E, I was watching this purple coloured rash appear.

"It looked like someone had laid him flat on the floor and about ten people had been jumping on him.

"Doctors were baffled and were coming from everywhere. They said they were doing everything they could for him but he was likely to die.

"I was in a state of disbelief. I felt absolutely devastated, numb.

"I pleaded with him and said: 'You can't die. I need you. Don't leave us.'"

Despite facing death more than four times and enduring 26 medical procedures, John has survived and is on the road to recovery.

He now has prosthetic legs, so he no longer has to rely on an electric chair to get around.

He is also adjusting to his prosthetic forearms and hands, which enable him to hold onto things and support himself.

But their limited functions mean his wish to tend to his beloved garden remains a pipe dream.

Yet Rose hopes to find a way to raise enough money to get John some high definition silicone prosthetic arms, which would enable him to do this.

She said: "They would make such a big difference to John as he is having a hard time adjusting to the ones he has.

"They are an improvement but they are limited in what they can do, so I'd love to be able to fundraise to get him some better ones.

"His prosthetic limbs mean he can move around now and go out into the garden, but he is desperate to get involved with it again."

John said: "Every day is a new day, a new chapter. I got a new body when I lost my hands and feet. This is a new me now.

"I've got to learn to walk like I did as a child but this time with prosthesis, parts of me that aren't actually me, but I've got to figure them out to be me.

“I'd love to get back out into the garden.

"This has changed our life forever but there are thousands of amputees out there and we want people to know this can happen to anyone at any time.

"It isn't about what you can't do but what you can do. You’ve got to keep your chin up, smile and laugh daily and just accept what you are."