Mistley rugby participant results in hospital resulting from canine poo

A rugby participant who ended up in hospital with an an infection in his leg from canine poo mentioned the issue wanted to be taken extra critically.

Neil Baxter, 44, who performs for Mistley RUFC in Essex, was grazed by one other participant’s studs. His leg later turned sizzling and began swelling.

Doctors took swabs which confirmed the an infection had come from animal faeces.

“My biggest worry if that this will happen to one of the hundreds of children who play there,” he mentioned.

The father-of-two was taking part in on the pitches at Furze Hill in Mistley when the incident occurred final 12 months.

He has been left with an eight inch (20 cm) scar and has no feeling in his decrease leg after the an infection destroyed 25% of the muscle in his calf, taking it “right down to the bone”.

“As a club we are now much more aware when we get grazes and we use alcohol gels. We’ve also put in extra dog poo bins around the pitch but we need dog owners to play their part and clear up after their pets,” he mentioned.

Charlotte Howell, chair of Mistley parish council, mentioned canine poo was a “growing problem” due to the rise of canines within the space for the reason that pandemic.

“Selfish people who don’t pick up after their dogs are very much in the minority but we are increasingly finding dog mess on the pitches,” she mentioned.

“Neil ending up in hospital just shows you how serious this problem can be.”

She added: “Furze Hill is a lovely open space, with the two rugby pitches and a football pitch surrounded by beautiful woods, and a car park, so it has become a destination dog walking area.

“We have very clear signage in place however we’re interesting to canine homeowners to do the fitting factor – both preserve canines off the pitches or clear up diligently.”

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