In November 2013, Alex Lewis was rushed to hospital with just 30 minutes to live. He was 33 years old. Leading up to his hospital admittance, he’d been suffering with a cold and a sore throat. 

Within hours of being admitted to hospital he was on full life support and was given less than 3% chance of survival. What had brought this otherwise healthy man to his knees? Strep A, Toxic Shock Syndrome, Septicaemia and Necrotising Fasciitis. 

In order to survive, Alex needed a quadruple amputation, extensive skin grafts and facial reconstruction surgery. 

With his life turned upside down, it was time for Alex to start living.  

“Everything that's gone on with losing my limbs and legs and arms, everything else, I think the biggest driving force is having the ability to help people like me, in a similar condition.”

Alex is the ultimate motivational speaker because he hasn’t had an epiphany that he wants to share with the world, he’s had a near death experience. On top of that he’s had to overcome adversity in order to take on new challenges such as living day to day life, becoming an entrepreneur and hand cycling up mountains. 

In this extraordinary episode, Alex shares what it takes to go through something like this, what resilience really looks like and what we can learn from his experience. 

On today’s podcast:

• Alex Lewis Trust
• Strep A, Toxic Shock Syndrome, Septicaemia and Necrotising Fasciitis
• Rebuilding his life
• Becoming director of a number of startups 
• Working with Imperial College London
• Hand cycles

Links:

• Alex Lewis Trust
• The Extraordinary Case Of Alex Lewis
• Koalaa - affordable prosthesis