A dad is fundraising to have his own leg amputated as a football injury has left him in agony for 28 years - but NHS refuse to do it as they 'deem the surgery cosmetic'. Nick Brown has 'lived and breathed' football for as long as he can remember but while diving to make a save during a game 28 years ago, he collided with a goal post and snapped his posterior cruciate ligament in the process.
Over the years, the 54-year-old has undergone 12 surgeries to rectify the injury but has been living in constant pain and been 'passed from pillar to post' in a bid to identify its source. Nick, who's now registered as disabled, claims being on his feet causes his leg to swell up like a 'balloon' leaving him housebound for days and that catching it in the wrong way is akin to a 'hot poker' being sent straight through the limb.
The 'horrific' accident has had a colossal impact on all aspects of his life - as he's been forced to leave well-paid jobs and carries around an 'enormous amount of guilt' given he feels like he's 'holding his family back'. At his wits end, Nick claims he first approached the NHS asking for his leg to be amputated back in 2019 - but given they considered it 'non-life threatening and cosmetic', was turned down.
