A journalist who suffered a life-threatening bout of sepsis after being bitten by a dog has shared his story.

John Manley, pictured, spent 13 nights in intensive care receiving life-saving treatment and dialysis after the incident in March 2020, just before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Irish News journalist began to feel unwell a few days after suffering a dog bite to his hand.

After going to hospital, John was initially suspected of having Covid, but it was soon confirmed that he was suffering from sepsis, a condition that occurs when the body’s response to infection causes widespread inflammation, leading to potential organ failure.

John has now shared his experiences in a piece for the Down News to coincide with World Sepsis Day, which takes place tomorrow.

“When I look back now, I realise how lucky I am to be here and very fortunate for early treatment by the doctors at the Downe and Uster Hospitals,” he wrote.

Recounting his ordeal, John said: “Following a dog bite to my hand, I initially cleaned the wound. However,  a few days later, I began to feel unwell. My feet got very cold and I had a sore back, I was in a lot of discomfort.

“I then decided to attend the Urgent Care Centre at the Downe Hospital as I really didn’t feel well at all.”

Following his diagnosis, John was transferred from the Downe Hospital to the Ulster Hospital, where he spent 13 nights in the Intensive Care Unit.

He was then moved to a ward for an additional four days before being discharged, but recovery was a slow process, with his kidneys taking time to regain full function.

Said John:  “My feet were in a really bad way and I had developed bruising on all my extremities, from the tip of my nose to the soles of my feet.”

After returning to fitness, John and his wife hiked up Nephin Mountain in County Mayo in September of 2020 to mark his recovery.

Added John: “It is so important to seek treatment as soon as possible. My outcome could have been a lot worse if I had not received early intervention by the medical teams at the Ulster and Downe Hospitals.

“They were incredible and I would like to thank them so much.”