Featured Image Credit: @gabelieschke/Instagram
Topics: Health, World News
Anish Vij
A man woke up from a coma to the news that he had sadly lost his arm after a bicep curl injury at the gym.
Gabriel Lieschke suffered, what he thought, was a pretty standard injury at the gym one day by pulling his right bicep.
The injury would require routine surgery, however, just three days after the procedure, the bodybuilding enthusiast was rushed back to hospital.
After his arm had doubled in size, Gabriel had caught an infection known as necrotising fasciitis, otherwise known as 'the flesh eating disease'.
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The bodybuilder underwent 11 major surgeries and was in an induced coma for ten days.
Speaking on the Young Blood – Men’s Mental Health podcast, Gabriel said: “Basically it was touch and go, it was like three days after the surgery, a locum came out and said, ’Right off to hospital’, rushed me in and I don’t recall those three days at all, the infection took over and ruined my memory.
“Basically, I was put into a coma, and it was a question or not of whether I was going to live, they just had to keep chopping parts away.
“My dad was calling my friends up saying, ‘it looks like Gabe’s going to die’, it was hot water for quite a while.”
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He added: “I had 10 years of training behind me when I tore my bicep… In the year leading up to tearing my bicep I started boxing… I felt so good about myself.
“It was surreal, it didn’t compute, it was like what am I looking at?”
Edward Noble, who is organising a GoFundMe on behalf of Gabriel, wrote: "When Gabe regained consciousness the first thing he said to me was 'I just have to beat this' shortly followed by 'I think I want to do track cycling!'
"Since then, Gabe has made astonishing progress.
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"Going from never riding a road bike, to cycling 10+ hours a week, taking part in races at a national level, and taking up countless other disciplines.
"Gabe’s goal is to compete in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
He added: "My goal is to raise $26,544 for Gabe through the form of a cycling challenge known as Everesting.
"The rules are simple: ride up any hill, anywhere in the world, multiple times, until you reach the cumulative elevation of Mount Everest (8,849m), in one push, without sleep."
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If you'd like to donate, click on the following link - Gabe Lieschke's GoFundMe.