Woman in coma after bra scratch

By Hattie Bishop via SWNS

A woman was left in an eight-day coma after a deadly flesh-eating bug attacked her breast - caused by a scratch from her bra.

Sylvia Halcrow, 53, believes the metal in her underwire bra caused an injury that developed into a dangerous bacterial infection necrotizing fasciitis.

After attending her local GP and being given painkillers, the civil servant rushed herself to A&E when her condition deteriorated.

Doctors did days of tests on an abscess on her right breast, and she was diagnosed with the disease and told her organs had started shutting down.

She had surgery and woke from an induced coma eight days later with some of her breast removed, and a 15-inch scar running from her ribs to under her arm.

Sylvia, from Shetland, Scotland, who is now back at work, said: ''I came very close to not surviving it at all so I'm very grateful indeed.

''It's scary to think this was caused by my bra.

''I've swapped to a different style now without underwiring just in case.

''It's hard having so much of my breast removed, it doesn't always look very nice, especially in summery dresses."

''But the main thing is that I'm alive and here to tell the tale.''

Sylvia's ordeal began in May 2022 when she noticed a lump on her breast which quickly turned into a ''painful abscess."

Over a few days it became more painful despite her taking an antibiotic prescription from her doctor.

''I just knew something wasn't right and so I took myself to A&E, I was in so much pain,'' she said.

''When I walked in the nurse looked at me and rushed me straight through.

''I was totally grey in the face. It was really scary.

''They did lots of tests and pumped me with medicine and pain relief, but nothing was helping.

''The doctors were stumped for a few days, I didn't know what was going to happen.''

After two days in Gilbert Bain Hospital, Sylvia was flown by coast guard helicopter and prepped for surgery to remove the abscess at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, on May 5, 2022.

''They put me into an induced coma, and I had two operations to remove the flesh-eating bug while I was out cold,'' she said.

''Looking back, I'm actually glad I was unconscious as I think I'd have been really traumatized.

''I was medically quite stable when I came out of my coma, although emotionally I was hugely disorientated.''

She woke from an induced coma eight days later, and after three more weeks in the hospital, Sylvia was allowed home and returned to work four months later.

She has raised £2k ($2,600 USD) for the Lee Spark Foundation, a necrotizing fasciitis charity, by holding a session at the local agricultural auction.

She said: ''I don't always feel my best now in certain clothes as there's a lot of boob missing, things don't hang quite right.

''But I'm so glad I'm alive after nearly not making it, I force myself to think positively.

''I've totally chucked bras with underwire, although we don't know for sure, I'm certain that's what caused this whole thing.

''It's just not worth the risk.''