Fenn Settle, a 25-year-old man has spoken up about waking up in the middle of an operation.
According to a report by Metro UK, Fenn Settle woke up and felt a sharp stabbing pain in his abdomen during the operation for a ruptured appendix.
He also said he felt like he was ‘choking to death on a bottle cap’ because of a tube inserted into his throat.
He tried blinking, wiggling his fingers and toes and, in a last-ditch attempt to get the attention of medics, he made a ‘conscious decision’ to urinate on the operating table before he was then put back under.
He said: ‘I went down for surgery and everything was fine, I was put under but came round and felt like I had a bottle cap in my throat.
‘I tried to spit it out but couldn’t and felt like I was choking to death. Everything goes through your mind like, are you going to see your family again?
‘I thought I was going to die and tried to hold my breath so I would pass out quicker. I then realised I could hear voices, the beep of the machines and a stabbing pressure on my abdomen.
‘I was able to figure out what was going on and that I was still in the operation. I couldn’t move, I was paralysed. I tried to open my eyes, scream, wiggle my fingers and toes.
‘I was willing any part of me to do something. I made the conscious decision to urinate, it was the only thing I could do.
‘It was that sort of feeling when you have three beers. I thought this will get their attention. I definitely could have held it in.
‘In the post-op ward I said to the nurses ‘I remembered that’ but they said it was just a dream.
‘The next morning I was seen by a doctor who said, “I’m aware you had some awareness of the operation” but said whatever you do don’t google it because I would scare myself.’
Since his ordeal Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust has apologised and received compensation in an out of court settlement.
Fenn, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, returned to work a week after the operation but has since suffered from post-traumatic stress and flashbacks.