Diabetic man's legs saved from amputation at last moment shows the wonder of modern medicine

A double leg amputation is a terrifying prospect. After a simple verruca on his foot became infected, that was the situation facing Barry Mayled.

Over several years, it failed to respond to various different treatments, with ulcers and painful growths spreading across both feet. Mayled, an architect and garden designer from Wales, said his doctors then suggested it was “a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ my legs would have to be amputated below the knees”.

However, he decided to try a form of medical microwave technology and, this time, the treatment proved to be a success with the 73-year-old diabetic crediting it with not only saving his legs but also his life. Called Swift, the device was developed by Stirling-based firm Emblation, set up by scientists Gary Beale and Eamon McErlean after they met while studying at Edinburgh’s Heriot-Watt University.

Barry Mayled's diabetic ulcerations were treated successfully with Emblation’s Swift device (Picture: Mark Hawkins for Holyrood PR)

Scotland has world-class universities. Helping more scientists turn medical research into inventions that are capable of saving life and limb would be good for our economy and humanity in general, while providing even more examples of the enduring miracle that is modern medicine.

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