SPRING HILL, Fla. — A Spring Hill father is recovering after contracting a flesh-eating bacteria after returning from a Bahamas vacation.
Brian Roush and his fiancé traveled to the Bahamas around Christmas time.
WATCH: Spring Hill father returns home after contracting flesh-eating bacteria
His daughter, Brittany, said her father was looking forward to excursions like swimming with the pigs.
While on the trip, he scraped his ankle.
"He was walking with her somewhere and tripped and scraped up his ankle, just a little abrasion, road rash kind of thing," said his daughter, Brittany Roush.
"I didn't think that just a little cut on my ankle would turn into a life-threatening disease," said Brian.
Brittany said his father complained of flu-like symptoms while returning home from the trip.
"Overnight, he became extraordinary sick and was unresponsive in the morning. His partner called 911 and by the time he got to the hospital, he was already in septic shock," said Brittany.
WATCH: Spring Hill father fighting flesh-eating bacteria after Bahamas vacation
"We checked into our hotel, went to bed, next morning, I was completely incoherent. I was going into sepsis, I didn't know that at the time," said Brian.
Brian was hospitalized at Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.
He was diagnosed with flesh-eating bacteria or necrotizing fasciitis.
He spent nearly a month at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Spring Hill. He returned home on March of 2026.
Brian said he's grateful he did not lose his leg or life.
While in the hospital, his liver, kidneys and lungs were failing and doctors placed him in a medically induced coma.
"The chances of survival with sepsis with multi-organ failure are about 20%, but with everything else going on, he was given maybe a 10% chance to live," she said.
Brittany said her father has made remarkable progress. Doctors performed reconstruction surgery on his ankle.
"They didn’t expect him to pull through, but he started showing signs of improvement. His lungs improved, his liver improved so he was able to be taken off the ventilator," she said.
A GoFundMe page is raising money for Brian's ongoing medical bills.
"He feels like it’s very important for people to like be prepared for life’s unexpected twists. We certainly were not prepared for this. It’s been difficult financially. It’s been difficult emotionally," said Brittany.
Brian said he's grateful for the medical team at Broward Health and the staff at Encompass Health.
The family also said they're grateful for the overwhelming support from the community.
"I think that’s one thing, he’s found a lot of solace in how many people have stepped up to help and taken an interest and provided support," she said.
Brian said he'd return to the Bahamas again.
"We went swimming and we had a blast. I would do it all over again, but not with a cut on my leg. That's a definite lesson learned that I've taken to heart," said Brian.
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