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Amputee Smoker's Stark Warning: "Cigarettes Never Worth It"
19 Aug
Summary
- Man had leg amputated after 50 years of smoking
- Nearly 26,000 people in Southwest pledged to quit smoking in past year
- "You've got to want to give it up," says amputee
In a stark warning to smokers, a Somerset man who had to have his leg amputated after 50 years of smoking is urging others to quit the habit. Cliff Hopkins, 68, from Wells, says he smoked two pouches of tobacco per week before deciding to quit 5 months ago. This decision came after blocked arteries led to the loss of his leg.
According to NHS data, nearly 26,000 people in the South West region have pledged to stop smoking in the past year, up from 15,000 the year before. "It's down to you as a person, you've got to want to give it up," says Hopkins. "I thought to myself, I've lost a leg and I don't want to lose another one."
The rise in Southwest residents seeking to quit smoking reflects a growing awareness of the severe health consequences. Hopkins' personal experience serves as a powerful reminder of the toll tobacco can take, even after decades of use. His message is clear: the risks of smoking are simply not worth it.
