Boy, 8, dies with flesh-eating infection after stitches for bike crash

Tragic: Liam died on Sunday night after days of fighting and amputating his limbs. Photo / GoFundMe

An 8-year-old boy has died just days after contracting flesh-eating bacteria, despite four major operations that involved amputating almost every limb.

Liam Flanagan, a second-grader who loved cycling and animals, crashed his bike as he rode down a hill at his family home in Spring Creek, Oregon, on Saturday January 13.

The handlebar sliced through his jeans, and he was whisked to hospital for stitches, according to the Daily Mail.

Liam Flanagan fell and crashed on his bike mid-January. Days later, he was fighting for life. Photo / GoFundMe

But days later at home, Liam was in excruciating pain, and discovered a "purplish-red and gangrenous looking" swelling on his groin.

He was admitted to hospital on Wednesday, where he was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, one of the most deadly bacteria, fatal in 30 per cent of cases.

Despite four major operations at three hospitals, the infection was too aggressive, and on Sunday night the boy died.

Distraught, his mother and stepfather, Sara Hebard and Scott Hinkle, are speaking out about losing their son, urging other parents to be hyper-vigilant of cuts, dirt and the healing process after stitches.

"We don't want any other parents to go through this," Hinkle said.

Describing the ordeal, Hinkle said he couldn't believe his eyes when, days after Liam's fall, he saw the inflamed growth.

"It was purplish-red and gangrenous looking," he said. "We threw him in the rig and went like hell."

Surgeons at his local St Anthony Hospital in Pendleton spent hours trying to cut out the infection from his tissues, eventually transferring him and his mother to Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland.

Hinkle stayed at home to care for the other boys. In Portland, the surreal nightmare continued as surgeons tried to stay ahead of the rare but deadly infection, known as necrotising fasciitis, by amputating parts of the boy's body.

"They basically cut him up piece by piece," Hinkle said.

"Almost his whole right side was gone," Hebard said. "They kept cutting and hoping. Cutting and hoping."

With his condition worsening, Liam was transferred to another specialist unit at Randall Children's Hospital, also in Portland, on Sunday.

The eight-year-old ended up in hospital in Oregon for four operations to cut out the bacteria. Photo / GoFundMe

Hours later, he died.

Hebard said she is still processing. Her emotions run the gamut. She smiles in wonderment as she recalls how he tried to keep his family and friends from worrying as he lay in his hospital bed in a nest of tubes, electrodes, cables and monitors. He FaceTimed with friends, laughing, joking and showing his tubes.

"He told them, 'It's just going to be a couple of days and I'll be coming home," Hebard said.

"He was so strong and so brave."

At one point, Liam was feeling dehydrated and Hebard promised she wouldn't eat or drink until he was able. Liam wouldn't have it.

"He took my hand and said he just needed a hug," she recalled.

Hinkle spoke to Liam for the last time by phone.

"I told him to be strong and that he'd be okay," Hinkle said. "He said he missed me."

Now that Liam is gone, Hebard and Hinkle are reeling in a rush of memories.

"He was a bright ray of sunshine," Hebard said. "He loved everyone and everyone loved him. He was one of those people who would walk into a room and would draw everyone."

"He was a lovable kid," Hinkle said of the boy who uncomplainingly helped him build fences and do other tasks around the farm. "He never had a bad word to say."

Liam's mother Sara said she was distraught as he lay in his hospital bed and asked for a hug. Photo / Facebook

Now, they are second-guessing themselves.

Maybe if they had got Liam to the hospital sooner when he first complained of pain they had chalked up as normal. They want other parents to know about the flesh-eating bacteria, something they didn't previously know about.

The community is raising funds to help the family with medical and funeral expenses.

A taco feed will take place during Friday's Pilot Rock High School basketball games against Stanfield to raise funds.

A loaded baked potato feed is on tap during the next day's games against Culver. A blanket toss, bake sale and basket raffle will take place both days. And they will pay tribute to Liam in camo, the pattern he loved so much.

"Everyone is asked to come wearing camo in memory of Liam," said organiser Joan Harrison.

Hebard also set up GoFundMe page which has so far received $7600.