'Say goodbye to daddy': Australian father, 48, who got a sore throat on flight home from family holiday nearly DIES and has to have all of his limbs amputated to stop killer infection

  • An Australian father who picked up a sore throat became so ill he nearly died  
  • The family of Jason Miller, 48, was told he had less than a 10% chance of survival 
  • His organs started shutting down and his daughter, 7, was told to 'say goodbye'
  • He made a miraculous recovery but now faces the amputation of hands and feet
  • The family have raised more than $21,000 to support his new life after surgery

By Laura Hedges For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 23:24 EST, 18 November 2018 | Updated: 23:24 EST, 18 November 2018

An Australian father nearly died after a sore throat he picked up on a flight home quickly deteriorated into a deadly bacterial infection that will end with his limbs being amputated.

Jason Miller, 48 - known to his family and friends as Buddy - was admitted to hospital on October 31, four days after his symptoms began, and within an hour he was fighting for his life.

His situation worsened so rapidly, Buddy's family brought his seven-year-old daughter Jhayda into the hospital to 'say goodbye to daddy'.

On Wednesday 31st October,  Jason Miller, 48 - known to his family and friends as Buddy - was admitted to hospital and within an hour he was fighting for his life

On Wednesday 31st October,  Jason Miller, 48 - known to his family and friends as Buddy - was admitted to hospital and within an hour he was fighting for his life

'We were told multiple times he has a less than 10 per cent chance of survival,' Kate Munn – Jason's sister-in-law – told Daily Mail Australia.

'Not just once or twice. Many times we were told he might not make it through the next few hours.'

Mr Miller - Manly ferry operator in Sydney - had been put in a coma, diagnosed with a bacterial infection from both streptococcus and aerococcus that caused toxic shock syndrome and severe septic shock.

On advice from doctors that his heart would soon give out, the family also called in a priest to read him his last rites.

His situation worsened so rapidly, Buddy's family brought his seven-year-old daughter Jhayda (pictured, right) into the hospital to 'say goodbye to daddy'

His situation worsened so rapidly, Buddy's family brought his seven-year-old daughter Jhayda (pictured, right) into the hospital to 'say goodbye to daddy'

'We were told multiple times he has a less than 10 per cent chance of survival,' Kate Munn – Jason's sister-in-law –said. 'Not just once or twice. Many times we were told he might not make it through the next few hours.'

'We were told multiple times he has a less than 10 per cent chance of survival,' Kate Munn – Jason's sister-in-law – told Daily Mail Australia. 'Not just once or twice. Many times we were told he might not make it through the next few hours.'

But Buddy's fighting spirit came out in full force and to the surprise of doctors, nurses and his family, five days later he woke up.

Buddy's family have set up a Go Fund Me page to help fund his journey to recovery, calling it a 'true miracle' he's survived so far.

'His road to recovery will be long and hard. He will need physiotherapy, a wheelchair, prosthetics, etc,' they wrote.

'He needs your help to face the many agonising months and years ahead.'

Doctors have now confirmed Buddy will have to have his hands and both feet amputated in a bid to stop the infection from spreading.

'A true miracle': Buddy's fighting spirit came out in full force and to the surprise of doctors, nurses and his family, five days later he woke up

'A true miracle': Buddy's fighting spirit came out in full force and to the surprise of doctors, nurses and his family, five days later he woke up

Doctors have now confirmed Buddy will have to have his hands and both feet amputated in a bid to stop the infection from spreading

Doctors have now confirmed Buddy will have to have his hands and both feet amputated in a bid to stop the infection from spreading

The question that still remains is how much of each limb he will lose, but doctors won't be able to confirm this until they get to the operating theatre.

'He's very pragmatic. At this stage he's accepted that he will be a quadruple amputee,' Ms Munn said.

'He's just looking ahead to see how he might be able to function.'

Buddy's vast and extremely close family have so far raised more than $21,000, with money coming from friends and the community, as well as those who don't know Buddy but have been touched by his story.

'Buddy you sound like you're a top bloke and it makes me sad you've had to go through this,' one person wrote.

'I'm glad you beat the odds and will live to see your daughter grow up. What a fighter you are.'

Buddy and his daughter also have a particularly poignant saying which has left the little girl extremely happy to still her father - 'We're not scared, we're Millers!'

Buddy and his daughter also have a particularly poignant saying which has left the little girl extremely happy to still her father - 'We're not scared, we're Millers!'

And that's something Ms Munn has echoed, calling him 'the eternal optimist'.

'It's a reminder of how fragile life is,' she said.

'You can make a choice to fall in the face of adversity or to rise, and he was only ever going to rise, that's just how he operates.'

Ms Munn said Buddy and his daughter also have a particularly poignant saying which has left the little girl extremely happy to still her father - 'We're not scared, we're Millers!'

The road to recovery for Buddy is still a long one as the family weighs up where they may have to live and Buddy's eventual capacity to work, but they remain positive.

'He's the same man with the same personality,' Ms Munn said.

'It's outstanding.' 

Buddy has a huge network of family and friends who have supported him throughout the ordeal. Pictured is a family reunion in at Baradine, NSW in October 2017

Buddy has a huge network of family and friends who have supported him throughout the ordeal. Pictured is a family reunion in at Baradine, NSW in October 2017

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Australian father got sore throat flight home nearly DIES all of his limbs amputated stop infection

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