Rugby Star's Nightmare: Staph Infection from Nose Bump

0:00On March 28, a Wales rugby star named Sam Davies turned a simple nose bump into a nightmare health scare. The 32-year-old got hit during a game for Grenoble in France back in January. He kept playing despite heavy bleeding, but soon a staff infection kicked in from bacteria in his nose. It spread to his bones, dropping seven kilograms off his frame and leaving him bedbound with no feeling in his legs and killer pain. This passed before Docs nailed the diagnosis. At first, vague symptoms like stiffness got brushed off as game soreness. His wife Eliana had to rush him to the hospital at 4 a.m. when he couldn't move his legs. Language barriers made it tough, but tests finally confirmed the staff after eight days in the hospital and more waiting at home. Davies called it mentally and physically brutal, feeling like Eliana had two babies with their nine-month old Vienna around. He couldn't even shower or get off the sofa at the worst. Now he's walking again and handling daily tasks, but the pain lingers and he's rebuilding his strength.

1:00Experts like microbiologist Dr. Sarah Hooper say his case was severe and hard to spot with no clear lumps or blisters at first. Just vague signs and later foot burns. Staff lives in one in three noses and sneaks in through cuts, treatable with antibiotics unless it spreads like this. Artificial turf might have played a role with its bacteria risks. Davies, a former world junior player of the year with eight whales caps, plans to return once he bokes up and scans clear. He's grateful to be on the mend in eyeing Grenoble's promotion push from the sidelines, turning this close call into fuel for his comeback.