Widow Speaks After Flesh-Eating Bacteria Kills Husband

CODEN, Ala. (WPMI) Residents along the Gulf Coast are on high alert after word of a deadly bacteria in the waters. Vibrio Vulnificus has already claimed the lives of two people in Mobile County and now the wife of one of the victims is telling her family's story.Local 15's Christian Jennings sat down with the family of Wayne Anderson on Monday.Health officials say normally the bacteria is deadly for folks with weakened immune systems. And Janice Anderson, Wayne Anderson's wife, said that 20 years ago, her husband had open heart surgery, so he was taking heart medication. But other than that he was healthy and had devoted his life to working on the water.I even had one of his nephews who told me the other day, he said, the water killed my Uncle Wayne. I mean, what do you say? said Janice Anderson. Her husband was 63 when he died on September 19.But his troubles began mid-August, when his wife said he contracted a bacteria after tending to a crab trap in Heron Bay.He had a little bitty spot, but there was no cut, none. So we soaked his leg and you could watch his leg swelling, said Anderson.Wayne Anderson went to the hospital and was diagnosed with cellulitis. He took antibiotics for two weeks before going back to his weekly routine of crabbing in the brackish waters of Heron Bay.Then a few weeks later, on Tuesday, September 17, that familiar spot on his leg showed up again.He pulled his pants leg up and there was a red spot. And he was just shivering, talking out of his head. He passed out on us a couple of times, said Janice Anderson.He was rushed to the hospital and this time he was diagnosed with Vibrio Vulnificus, the flesh-eating bacteria. Within just a few hours he took a turn for the worse.By Tuesday night they were taking his leg off, said Anderson.Doctors told his family that they were amputating to save his life.So we were making plans on how to get our house handicap accessible and stuff like that, she said.But cutting off his leg wasn't enough.Four am Thursday they said you need to call the family in, he's not going to make it, Anderson said.It's just crazy how it happened. No one would have thought this would be the way he left us, cried Wayne Anderson's daughter, Ann Kurn. Just not having around him anymore, it's just not going to be the same.Anderson just hopes her husband's story helps save at least one life.Everybody down here, you know, seafood is their life. You know, just be careful. Because like I said he was a healthy man. You know it's not something that just attacks a person who's sick, said Anderson.Now all this family has left are memories of Wayne Anderson, a man who loved God, his family and the water. He leaves behind three children, 11 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.The flesh-eating bacteria is found in brackish water and is more prevalent in warmer months. It can cause disease in those who have open wounds or those who eat contaminated seafood, like raw oysters for example.Health officials said Monday that even something as simple as stubbing your toe on a pier can leave you vulnerable if contaminated water then splashes on your foot after the injury.CLICK HERE for more information on Vibrio Vulnificus.