Aussie MMA fighter Tim Schultz contracts staph infection in Thailand

An up-and-coming Aussie MMA fighter is currently battling a horrific infection that will almost certainly lead to his leg being amputated.

Queenslander Tim Schultz, a professional boxer and mixed-martial arts fighter, has been diagnosed with a serious case of staph infection that he contracted at a fight camp in Thailand.

The infection started in his foot, but has since spread so much that it approaches the bone and rises to his knee.

Thai doctors have informed him that his leg will need to be amputated, but Mr Schultz is desperate to return to Australia for a second opinion.

His training partner and friend Matthew Yung Lee-Manwar told Daily Mail Australia that Tim spent a month training at Bangtao Muay Thai – one of the most prestigious MMA gyms – when he contracted a staph infection that quickly got worse.

“Bumps and bruises happen during training, but when he returned from a walk, his shin hurt a lot, so he went to a doctor and got a cortisone shot, as they suspected he had a small bone fragment or deep bruises ,” mr. Lee – said Manwar.

The next day Tim collapsed trying to get out of bed and was rushed to hospital as his foot and shin were extremely swollen.

‘After the first course of antibiotics didn’t work, the Thai hospital said to amputate and he was transferred to a second hospital for another advice, where he has been for a week now.

“Tim will most likely lose his leg to pursue his dream.”

At a Thai hospital, his leg was drilled and drained in three different locations, despite being told they would only make a small incision.

“He finally woke up during the surgery feeling all the pain as they removed all of the skin from the top of his foot and lower shin. So he was very shocked,” Mr Lee-Manwar said.

“His condition in his foot is better, but the infection is now spreading to his knee.”

Staph infections are bacterial infections commonly picked up by martial artists. It can become deadly if the bacteria penetrate deeper into the body or enter the bloodstream.

They are spread from person to person and are extremely contagious with common symptoms including boils and oozing blisters.

It is believed that Tim’s staph infection also led to a necrotizing fasciitis infection – a serious bacterial infection that destroys the tissue under the skin.

This happens when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, in this case through a hole caused by the staph infection.

An Australian doctor has now flown in to assess Tim and has told him that the wrong antibiotic was used to treat the infection.

Tim had previously had a MRSA staph infection that required a stronger antibiotic to treat.

Although the Aussie has health insurance on arrival in Thailand, he is still in the cooling off period, meaning he is not covered at all for the surgery or hospital stay.

Tim said the cost will be at least $50,000, so he has one my goal fundraiser to help cover the costs and get him back to Australia for further treatment.

Mr Lee-Manwar says Tim hopes to be home in the next few days but is unsure if he can fly even if accompanied by two medical professionals as there is a serious risk of blood clots, bleeding, fever and even cardiac arrest .

On the crowdfunding page, Tim said the infection has led to a “dangerous drop” in his blood pressure and blood oxygen levels, which “poses an imminent threat” to his life.

“The medical bills associated with this emergency have left me financially drained, preventing me from affording the essential care and procedures I urgently need,” he said.

“Throughout my life I have always been the one to lend a helping hand to others in need and never hesitated to offer help or support.

“It pains me to ask for help, but I’ve come to realize that there are times when even the strongest of us need to humbly ask for help from those around them.

“With your support, I have access to the medical interventions needed to fight this life-threatening infection.

“Your donations will go directly to covering the increasing costs of hospitalization, emergency treatment, surgery, medications, and any additional medical expenses that arise during my recovery.”

The MMA community has expressed its support for the fighter in the making, with Australian UFC women’s flyweight fighter Casey O’Neill leading the campaign.

“I have a friend in Thailand who has a staph infection down to his bone, looks like he will lose his leg and never be able to fight again,” she wrote on Twitter.

“He has to go home immediately because the treatment he is receiving is not helping and he has been lied to about getting a small incision.

“He’s living a nightmare, skip your morning coffee and donate.”

On Tuesday, the fundraiser raised just over $20,000.

Tim last fought in March for Beatdown Promotions where he took a second round victory over Michael Stanoff by a rear naked choke.