Callum Jones
A woman who's coming to terms with the devastating reality of having lost her leg originally thought her symptoms were because of a 'cold'.
Friedel de Beer, 51, fell ill in February 2023 and collapsed just a few days after initially developing symptoms, including blistered red skin on her ankle.
James Hope-Lang, Friedel's husband, rushed her to the hospital, where the family received the devastating news that the former swim school teacher may have just hours to live.
Friedel was diagnosed with Strep A which had developed into the 'flesh-eating' disease known as necrotising fasciitis - 'a bacterial infection that affects the tissue under your skin called the fascia', according to Cleveland Clinic.
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The rare condition can be life-threatening if not treated quickly.
Friedel was placed into an eight-day medically induced coma under the care of doctors so they could remove as much infected tissue as possible. This left almost all of Friedel's leg void of skin, though the continued presence of infection meant she required a below-the-knee amputation, followed by the same operation above-the-knee.
Despite the life-changing surgeries, Friedel feels fortunate she's still hear to enjoy many more memories with her 11-year-old son, JJ.
Admitting the experience has put her life 'into perspective', she said: "You feel you are very lucky that you survived and it does change your priorities in terms of what you feel is important in life, and living life and making the most of every opportunity.
"I do have bad days or weeks and it’s overwhelming, but you just have to let it out and allow yourself to be sad, allow yourself to be angry, upset and then move on."
Discussing her initial symptoms, Friedel felt like she 'was getting a cold' and after taking painkillers she did not 'feel any better'. However, she 'did not think much of it'.
There was one instance where she had to stop at every service station while she was driving to her and her husband’s rental home on the edge of the French Alps as she was so fatigued.
The mom also developed pain in her calf muscle and the skin on her ankle appeared red, but again she did not 'think it was anything serious'.
After spending days in a coma, it wasn't until July 2025 that Friedel was discharged from hospital and returned home.
"Your hospital becomes like a second home," Friedel explained.
The 51-year-old is now in the process of learning how to walk again after the life-changing surgery.
She added: "I’ve got a little bruise now so I have to rest for a day, and there’s some pinching from the prosthetic so I have to go into hospital for them to make adjustments.
"If you put on a bit of weight then suddenly the socket doesn’t fit well, and it’s an ongoing process.
"The doctor said my brain is still connected to when I had two legs and I have to consciously think about the process of what I’m going to do and how I’m going to do it."
Friedel reflected: "It’s helped me put things into perspective and when I have bad days I think I have to look at myself now – there’s still so many things you can do – I’m able to walk and do things with my son. It might be slightly slow or different."