South Jersey Man With Flesh-Eating Bacteria Takes Turn For Worse

A man fighting for his life as he deals with flesh-eating bacteria contracted from New Jersey waters has taken a turn for the worse, his family told Patch.

Amputation is next for Angel Perez, 60, of Millville, who was recently crabbing in the waters off Matts Landing in the Maurice River when he began to have severe pain and swelling in his right leg, according to his daughter, Dilena Perez-Dilan.

Perez also has been barely able to speak.

"Yes, eventually he will lose his fingers and some toes," Perez-Dilan said.

Perez has Vibrio necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating bacteria that county officials acknowledge could be found in the same waters. He is currently in the intensive care unit at Cooper University Hospital where he could eventually have all of his limbs amputated, Perez-Dilan said.

Since contracting the infection on July 2, it has spread to his blood, and his forearms are black. He has blisters and scarring, according to Perez-Dilan. Right now, there appears to be no way to stop the disease's damaging effects.

"They said there’s no stopping it, but they are taking time, so they don’t amputate too high up or too low," she said.

His daughter said he's been able to joke at times, but he's gotten worse and he has symptoms of delirium. He's not sleeping, he’s mumbling to himself and his speech is nearly indistinguishable.

"It’s been very rough on myself and stepmom," she said. "I’m here everyday but I have so many things to care for – like my son, my house, my job, and I don’t know what to do. Just a chaotic time for us all. Really starting to feel overwhelmed and I don’t feel right leaving his side."

Read more: Man Got Flesh-Eating Bacteria In NJ Waters, Family Says

"Don't take my legs. Please, don't take my legs," Perez-Dilan said, describing her father's words after having his breathing tubes removed.

Cumberland County officials, meanwhile, have said they are aware of Perez's case and say that such bacteria can live in the water during the summer.

Noah Hetzell, assistant health officer at the Cumberland County Health Department, told Patch the vibrio bacteria is found naturally in brackish waters but it flourishes during the summer months. When the waters get warmer, vibrio bacteria can be found in much higher concentrations, he told Patch.

The Matts Landing area is not a regulated swimming location, he said. This means that the health department does not have the ability to force it's closure.

"We can only recommend that residents avoid entering brackish waters, especially if they have are immunocompromised or have open wounds or sores on their body," he said.

Photo courtesy of Dilena Perez-Dilan