**Grandmother Left Fighting for Life After Minor Wine Glass Cut Becomes Flesh-Eating Infection**
A grandmother from Worcestershire has spoken out about a terrifying brush with death after a seemingly insignificant kitchen accident led to a life-threatening infection that nearly claimed her foot—and her life. Susan Sztybel, 67, is urging others not to dismiss even the smallest of cuts, after her own ordeal proved how swiftly and seriously an infection can escalate.
On an ordinary Friday evening in late March, Susan was preparing to relax with her partner, David Farmer, when she reached into a cupboard for some wine glasses. Unbeknownst to her, that simple act would become the catalyst for a medical emergency. One of the glasses slipped out, falling and shattering on the kitchen floor. As Susan cleared away the debris, a shard of glass nicked the side of her right foot, leaving what appeared to be a minor, one-inch wound.
“I barely gave it a second thought,” Susan explained. “I cleaned it up, popped a plaster on and just got on with my evening—it seemed so trivial at the time.” The next day, she returned to her role as a live-in carer, not suspecting that the worst was yet to come.
Within 24 hours, Susan started feeling markedly unwell. A wave of fever, nausea and sweating overcame her, and she noticed that her previously minor cut had begun to bleed and was oozing pus. Despite her worsening condition, she still didn’t realise the gravity of the situation, attributing it to a possible bug.
However, as her symptoms intensified and she became faint, a colleague stepped in to cover her shift. At this point, Susan’s foot was visibly swollen, pulsating — and the skin around the wound looked angry and discoloured. Realising something was very wrong, she made her way to Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. There, she was diagnosed with a rapidly spreading infection and referred on to a specialist team at Worcester Royal Hospital.
Doctors quickly determined Susan was suffering from sepsis, a strep A infection, and cellulitis—all of which escalated into necrotising fasciitis, more commonly known as a “flesh-eating” infection. By then, the bacteria had advanced up her leg and threatened her groin, putting her life in immediate danger.
“I was terrified. They told me they might have to amputate, and even then, they couldn’t guarantee my survival,” Susan recalls. She underwent urgent debridement surgery to remove infected tissue and was treated with powerful antibiotics. She was also hooked up to a vacuum-assisted closure device to help drain away the infection.
During her weeks in recovery, Susan experienced vivid hallucinations and moments when she truly believed she was near death. “They always say about seeing the pearly gates—I honestly thought I could see them. I kept pleading with the doctors, just trying to hold on.”
After more than a month receiving intensive care, including plastic surgery at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Susan finally turned a corner. Skin taken from her thigh was grafted onto her foot, and while the injury has left visible scars, doctors are optimistic about her long-term recovery.
Reflecting on her experience, the grandmother-of-eight remains determined to share her story in hope that others will take infection risks more seriously. “My infection marker was 500—it should have been five. I’m so lucky to be alive,” she said.
Susan is now advising everyone to seek medical advice immediately if even a minor cut shows any sign of infection. “Had I ignored it much longer, I might not be here today,” she adds, stressing that rapid action can save lives and limbs.
Her ordeal serves as a sobering reminder that no wound—however small—should be underestimated. Medical professionals echo her warning, reiterating the importance of prompt treatment and vigilance for signs of infection, such as increased pain, redness, swelling, or pus.
Susan’s experience offers a powerful message of survival, resilience, and the critical importance of never underestimating a seemingly mundane accident in the home.