A chef who suffered an electric shock while making lunch has had his left arm amputated after doctors performed more than 70 surgeries to try and save it.
Matt Davies, 56, had his arm ‘blown to pieces’ in a freak accident while preparing for lunch service in a restaurant.
He was electrocuted by 32 amps of electricity and rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham – where he spent three weeks undergoing surgeries to save and reconstruct his arm.
After several bouts of infection, the dad-of-three was forced to undergo more than 70 operations to try and save the limb.
But in April 2024, a decision was made to have it amputated from the elbow after the infection became too severe – seven years on from the accident.
Despite being in constant chronic pain, Matt has raised over £100,000 for charities – by hosting dinners with renowned chefs.
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.’
Matt Davies, 56, had his arm ‘blown to pieces’ in a freak accident while preparing for lunch service in a restaurant
He was electrocuted by 32amps of electricity and rushed to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham – where he spent three weeks undergoing surgeries to save and reconstruct his arm
After several bouts of infection, the dad-of-three was forced to undergo more than 70 operations to try and save the limb
Matt had spent 40 years as a chef before the incident and was running six restaurants in Staffordshire.
He doesn’t remember much of the accident in October 2017 but was rushed to hospital and had his arm rebuilt with skin grafts from this thigh.
Matt said: ‘My left leg is like a zebra crossing.’
Doctors were able to reconstruct it but were not able to make it usable again – so Matt was forced to give up his career.
After leaving hospital he developed a rare condition called complex regional pain syndrome.
Matt said: ‘I’m in horrendous pain all the time. It’s a pain that radiates in my left arm and affects all the left side of my body.’
Matt has spent the last seven years in and out of hospital struggling with countless infections – which has led to more surgery.
He nearly lost his life after losing four pints of blood after an operation in 2022.
Doctors were able to reconstruct it but were not able to make it usable again – so Matt was forced to give up his career
Matt had spent 40 years as a chef before the incident and was running six restaurants in Staffordshire
Despite this Matt, his wife, Tina, 57, and their family are grateful for his doctor – Col Mark Foster – who ‘saved his life’
He said: ‘As the years progressed it got worse and worse. In 2022 I was in hospital for four months of that year.’
In April 2024, a bad infection led to the decision to amputate his left arm.
‘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.’
Despite this Matt, his wife, Tina, 57, and their family are grateful for his doctor – Col Mark Foster – who ‘saved his life’.
He was encouraged to start holding dinners as a way to fundraise for charities that helped him – and held his first one in 2019.
He has held dinners with the likes of Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd – raising as much as £16,000 in one go for charities such as Fisher House and the University Hospital Birmingham.
Matt is still battling his health conditions and has been back in hospital with another infection – caused by his complex regional pain syndrome
Matt already has dinners planned this year with MasterChef The Professionals finalist Louisa Ellis and his annual ‘great Brummie menu’ event.
Matt 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.’
Matt is still battling his health conditions and has been back in hospital with another infection – caused by his complex regional pain syndrome.
He will likely need further operations.
Matt said: ‘People say they find it inspiring which is humbling to me. 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.’
