Dad of sepsis amputee: 'no father is prouder'

The father of a woman from Jersey who had all four limbs amputated after getting sepsis said "no father is prouder than I am", after a 10km fundraising run was held for his daughter.

Medical student Lily McGarry, 23 was initially hospitalised with flu-like symptoms in January, and was diagnosed with meningococcal septicaemia.

The running event on Sunday was organised to raise money for advanced prosthetic limbs and ongoing medical support for her.

After the event at Jersey's St Ouen's Bay, her father Stuart McGarry thanked the hundreds of people who took part and said Ms McGarry "feels loved" by all the support.

Mr McGarry said the journey from first getting the call that his daughter was in hospital to watching people running the race had been "very emotional".

"She's been in intensive care for about 110 days now and when she sees things like this it's just wonderful for her," he said.

"She is remarkable and she was remarkable before this, no father is prouder than I am."

He praised Ms McGarry, who was very active before her diagnosis, for the strength she has shown.

"She has a sort of inner strength. She gives me advice sometimes when I'm tearful," he said.

"She says, 'dad be in the present, it's good to plan for the future and think of memories, but stay in the present'.

"I think that's where she gets a lot of strength from."

Peter Holmes who used to train with Ms McGarry in Jersey's triathlon academy said the event was "brilliant".

"Lily is just such a lovely person, such a great triathlete, a great swimmer," he said.

"To hear about what happened was so upsetting and really, really hard to hear for someone that was such an active person."

He added: "It was really nice to see everyone and it was quite sad to hear people sharing memories that we have and that Lilly was such a lovely person, an active person.

"It's really important to try and raise this money and give her the opportunity to still live that life."

Stuart McGarry said other events are being organised to help raise funds for Ms McGarry's treatment and prosthetics.

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