Poisoning tragedy of gardener pricked by rose bush

A MAN died after contracting blood poisoning after pricking his finger while gardening.

George Emmerson died after he contracted septicaemia, despite medics amputating his finger and then an arm.

The 73-year-old was helping to prune back rose bushes two weeks ago when he pricked his finger.

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The taxi driver, of Whitby, did not realise he had a thorn in his finger and it was only when it began to swell and he felt ill a week later, that he went to Whitby Hospital.

He was transferred to Scarborough Hospital where he underwent two operations, one to remove his finger and another to remove his arm, but his condition deteriorated rapidly and he was placed in intensive care.

The father-of-three died after suffering a fatal heart attack a week after the incident.

His devastated widow Brenda, 66, paid tribute to her popular husband, who had raised thousands of pounds for charity.

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She said: "He talked to everybody, everybody knew him – he had a lot of friends.

"It was obviously quite an aggressive infection. I think it's quite unusual for it to have spread so quickly."

Brenda, who met George in 1959, has been comforted by the couple's children Andrew Emmerson, 39; Tracey Towers, 38; and twin sister Claire Morais.

Claire said: "We were very lucky, we couldn't have asked for a better dad, and mum for a better husband.

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"He was very caring and would do anything to help his family and friends. He would give 110 per cent. He thought of everyone before himself and he was brilliant."

Mr Emmerson was a taxi driver for the 10 years before his death but had also had jobs including work as a farm labourer and linesman earlier in his career.

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