FAMILY and friends of local lad Lee Spark are devastated after the outgoing 23-year-old died from a flesh eating bug, which entered his body through a decaying tooth.

Lee, who lived in Queensland Avenue, Sutton Heath, had gone to stay with his brother Martyn, 19, in Sheffield, whilst he looked for a job.

Within a couple of days of arriving in Sheffield, Lee, who should have been celebrating his 24th birthday on Monday (October 18) developed flu-like symptoms and went to bed. Three days later he was dead after contracting necrotising fasciitis, which infected his tooth and rapidly spread, killing tissue in his neck and chest. Lee's aunt, June Cartledge of Clock Face, said: "The family are devastated and can't believe this has happened. Lee was such a lovely, kind-hearted lad and we'll miss him terribly.

"Lee had worked abroad for a few years with his dad and Martyn. He had come home last Christmas, but he hadn't managed to find any work. So when Martyn got settled in Sheffield he thought he'd try his luck there. "Unfortunately within a couple of days of getting there he felt ill. Martyn phoned the doctor after a couple of days and the doctor said to get him to the surgery. But Lee collapsed onto the bed. Paramedics attended to Lee for 45 minutes, but unfortunately nothing could be done." She added: "Lee will live on in Martyn's three month old son, who will be christened shortly. He was due to be christened Lewis James Spark, but now Martyn and his girlfriend. Emma, have decided to call him Lewis James Lee Spark."

Following Lee's death, Dr Dympna Edwards, consultant in dental public health for St Helens and Knowsley Health Authority, said: "Necrotising fasciitis is a very rare condition caused by a bacterial infection. In this case the infection started in the mouth, but it usually affects the arms or legs. It is very unlikely to happen to anyone else as a result of toothache. However, anyone with toothache or swelling should visit their dentist in the normal way to have their tooth treated."

An expert in communicable disease added: "The germs which cause this streptococcus are very common and in most people are responsible for things like scarlet fever, skin infections and sore throats.

"But very rarely, there can be an extremely aggressive reaction and the infection becomes necrotising fasciitis. It sets up a chain reaction in which skin and muscle tissue die.

"Hospitals treat the infection with antibiotics. But because of the nature of the infection, tissue dies progressively so that there is no blood supply left to carry the antibiotics to the affected parts."

Lee, a former pupil at Rainhill High School, was cremated at St Helens Crematorium last Friday and the family would like to thank the many mourners, including a lady from Sweden who attended.

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