A MICHELIN-starred chef who was electrocuted had his arm amputated after it was “blown to pieces”.
The freak accident unfolded while Matt Davies, 56, was preparing for lunch service in a restaurant in Birmingham.
SWNSMatt Davies, 56, underwent 70 surgeries to save his arm[/caption]
SWNSThe Michelin-star chef was running six restaurants at the time of the freak accident[/caption]
SWNSTragically his injuries left Matt with chronic ‘horrendous pain’[/caption]
He was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being electrocuted by 32amps of electricity.
Matt spent three weeks undergoing 70 surgeries to save and reconstruct his arm.
The dad-of-three had a stellar 40-year career as a chef before the incident, operating six restaurants in his local area.
Matt, from Marsden, Staffordshire, said: “I was electrocuted at work by 32 amps.
“It blew my arm to pieces.
“My left arm – it was my arm. It was me.
“Getting over the amputation – I don’t know if I’ll ever get over it.”
Surgeons managed to use skin grafts to save his arm, and he described his left leg as a “zebra crossing”.
But tragically the freak accident left Matt with chronic “horrendous pain”.
“It’s a pain that radiates in my left arm and affects all the left side of my body,” he said.
The chef has been in and out of hospital with various infections, needing more operations, across the past seven years.
He nearly lost his life after losing four pints of blood after an operation in 2022.
“As the years progressed it got worse and worse,” Matt continued.
“In 2022 I was in hospital for four months of that year.”
SWNSMatt Davies before his amputation[/caption]
SWNSHe was rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after being electrocuted by 32amps of electricity[/caption]
SWNSHe spent three weeks in hospital[/caption]
A decision was made in April 2024 to amputate the arm after another bad infection.
“It was a horrible decision,” he said.
“It was the hardest day of my life.
“It was a pain like I have never experienced.
“It still haunts me today. I still feel very angry.
“I’m a proper lefty – having that taken away is horrendous.”
But Matt and his wife, Tina, 57, hailed doctor Col Mark Foster who “saved his life”.
The dad-of-three was inspired to hold charity dinners with fellow Michelin-star chefs to raise money for organisations who helped him recover, including Fisher House and the University Hospital Birmingham.
He has worked alongside names such as Tom Shepherd and raised as much as £16k in one event.
Matt also has dinners lined up this year with MasterChef The Professionals finalist Louisa Ellis and his annual “great Brummie menu” event.
The 56-year-old said: “My wife says at these dinners she gets her husband back.
“I find it super emotional.
“I’m turning a very horrendous incident into a positive thing giving something back.”
Despite his positivity, Matt will still likely need further operations.
“People say they find it inspiring which is humbling to me,” the dad-of-three added.
“Times can get dark but you can ask for help. You’ve got two choices – do something or you don’t.
“It’s how you perceive your life now.”
SWNSMatt Davies and wife Tina are grateful to doctor Col Mark Foster who ‘saved his life’[/caption]
SWNSThe chef continues to raise money for charities who helped him in recovery[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
