Cork taxi drivers set up fundraiser for colleague who had leg amputated after infection

Robert “Bobby” Lynch has been a taxi driver in Cork for over 30 years, and earlier this year he suffered an infection on his toe and later had to get a section of his left leg amputated.

Bobbys’ friends and colleagues are now raising funds to help him afford a prosthesis, adaptations to his house, and an automatic car so that he can continue to work.

Speaking on The Neil Prendeville Show today, Bobby said that the last few months have been a total shock.

“It happened so quick; I couldn’t believe it,” he said.

“When I noticed the little mark on my toe, my middle toe on my left foot, I just saw a little red mark and two days later the mark became a cut and I covered it with a plaster.

“I took the plaster off the next day and my top of the toe was jet black, so I got a fright.”

Bobby was transferred to Cork University Hospital, where doctors “took away the infection” and said that “the toe would fall off by itself.”

A few days later, the Cork man felt severe pains in his foot and went to A&E. He was later told that he would have to get his leg amputated six inches below the knee.

Bobby explained: “My toe was actually killing me and my foot was killing me. One morning, I woke up and couldn’t put my foot on the ground. I had an abscess on my foot.

“The moment the leg was taken, the pain that I had was lifted. Just gone.

“I’m in a wheelchair which is rough... It’s very hard,” he added.

Donations towards the Friends of Robert (Bobby) Lynch can be made here