Athlete Hit by ‘Flesh-Eating Bacteria’
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Says He’s Fine and Will Compete Again
A Santa Barbara triathlete attacked by “flesh-eating bacteria” said Friday he is feeling good, may leave Sherman Oaks Hospital Burn Center by next weekend and plans to compete again.
Bernie Donner, 35, has been hospitalized at the San Fernando Valley medical center since July 6. He said he is eager to get back to swimming, running and bicycling.
The summer camp lifeguard and swim instructor said: “You never think that this is, all of a sudden, going to hit you out of the blue, and it hit me out of the blue, all right.”
He said the infection started in a cut he got while shaving his legs for a bicycle ride, a common practice among competitive riders. It eventually spread from just below his groin to his ankle.
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