Flesh- Eating Nightmare, A White-Tail Nearly Killed Me

Brave mum Chelsea’s fight for life

- Renee Lansdowne

The thick ribbons of scar tissue that run down Chelsea Wooldridge’s arm from her armpit to her fingers are a daily reminder of a battle she fought so gallantly.

The 29-year-old’s withered right arm has been left with little feeling and she can scarcely bend it at the elbow. Her fourth and fifth fingers don’t work, lying idle at incongruous angles.

But for Chelsea, it’s a small price to pay for her life. “I can still hug my kids and I’m still here,” she says, pulling Mikaylah, 10, Kayne, nine, and Leah, six, closer.

Two years ago, Chelsea was struck down by the rare infection necrotising fasciitis, commonly known as flesheating disease.

Chelsea fought hard and won but has spent every day since trying to claw her life back with the support of her family, friends and her partner Tegan Kerr-Bell, 28.

“I’m still battling,” admits Chelsea, who lives near Whangarei with her three adorable children.

Left so weakened by the infection, Chelsea had to learn how to walk again. She continues to have skin grafts and is still campaigning ACC to recognise her near-death experience as an accident.

Chelsea believes her infection began with a whitetailed spider bite. The bacterium that causes necrotising fasciitis usually enters the body after surgery, an insect bite, a cut or an abrasion. The fatality rate if left untreated is an alarming 70%.

The young mum wants to share her harrowing story to spread awareness of how quickly an infection can knock someone young and healthy.