How a nail-biting habit left this man fighting for his life

Ricky Kennedy was affected by Sepsis from biting his nails

Remember all those times your mum told you to stop biting your nails? Maybe she had a point...

A grandad has almost lost his life after developing sepsis - a form of blood poisoning - from biting his nails.

Ricky Kennedy from Westcliff in the U.K. says he is lucky to be alive after contracting the infection from nibbling his thumbnail down.

The 57-year-old was given a 50% chance of surviving the ordeal and spent months in hospitals battling the disease.

The infection quickly spread around Ricky's body. (Picture: Media Scotland)

Frighteningly, it took the sepsis just a few hours to completely take control of Ricky's body.

He had bitten his nail down too far and noticed a tiny blister forming on his thumb.

 ''I’m lucky to be alive,'' He told Metro.co.uk.

''I may never be as healthy or as strong as I was but I’m still here with my family and that is very precious to me.'' 

Ricky went to see his doctor after getting concerned over the blister and he was initially given antibiotics to clear it.

However, the infection began to noticeably spread up his arms to his chest and within days he was rushed to hospital and left battling for his life.

He added: ''I didn’t think for a second that the cut on my thumb was the cause of it all.

''It was tiny. I had bitten my nail like that hundreds of times before so to think it almost killed me is terrifying.

''I was in so much pain, I couldn’t move. I thought I was having a heart attack and I really did think I was going to die. If it wasn’t for Ghislaine phoning an ambulance I would be dead.''

Ricky Kennedy and his wife Ghislaine. (Picture: Media Scotland)

Ricky's wife Ghislaine returned home to find him severely unwell and called his doctor.

It was then that he was diagnosed with sepsis and the couple were told it was a matter of life and death.

Ghislaine said: ''By the time the doctor got here it was all spreading down Ricky’s arms and chest.''

''He was absolutely delirious – he didn’t even know what age he was and he could barely breathe or stand up. I didn’t think he was going to make it.''

Ricky endured months of hospital stays at the pioneering infectious diseases ward in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.

However he is now back and home and able to get on with his life.

A scary story for all nail biters!