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A mother from Florida contracted a life-threatening flesh-eating bacteria after swimming with a cut.
Infections from Vibrio bacteria are rising, with two recent fatalities in Florida linked to exposure through open wounds in water.
Experts advise against swimming if you have cuts or fresh tattoos, as these can lead to serious infections and even amputations.
A woman who experienced significant leg loss due to exposure to the flesh-eating bacteria known as vibrio vulnificus is now cautioning others to be careful before jumping into the water.
Genevieve Gallagher became infected after swimming with a leg cut while out on a family boat trip in July 2025. She recalled that just days later, she underwent emergency surgery because her body began to shut down. “Every organ in my body began to fail. I went septic. I was intubated for six days, almost lost my life,” the mom from Pensacola, Florida, shared in an interview.
Gallagher is speaking out during a notable rise in vibrio vulnificus cases: this year alone, there have been 15 reported instances in Florida, according to the state’s health department. Tragically, infections have led to the deaths of individuals from Marion County and Brevard County, aged 60-64 and between 10-14, respectively.
The presence of Vibrio is natural in coastal waters, as noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most infections occur when individuals consume raw or undercooked shellfish, especially oysters, where bacteria can accumulate. However, it can also enter through open wounds or recent tattoos.
Symptoms of vibrio infections can resemble flu-like conditions, such as fever and stomach cramps. It’s called “flesh-eating bacteria” because it causes the skin around the entry point to deteriorate, with treatment sometimes requiring surgical removal of affected tissue, leading to amputations.
Gallagher expressed her shock when she “woke up and a lot of [her] leg was missing at the bottom.”
“If you have any open cuts at all, like mosquito bites that are open you’ve scratched. Do not shave the night before you go in the water,” she advised. “Just anything. It’s so serious, and you can get it. You really can. So don’t take that chance with your life.” She stresses that a day at the beach just isn’t worth it.
Gallagher added, “This will turn your life upside-down. I lost so much of my left leg below my kneecap; it’s unbelievable the amount of trauma I’ve been through.”
