A Florida mother is sharing a terrifying warning after a routine family boating trip nearly cost her her life.
Keep reading to know more.
50-year-old Genevieve Gallagher of Pensacola, was infected with Vibrio, a bacteria commonly found in warm coastal waters, after going boating with her family. What started with a small cut on her leg quickly turned into a life-threatening infection that left her septic, intubated, and missing part of her leg.
“This is the most traumatic thing that has ever happened, not only to me, but also to my family,” Genevieve previously said.
Genevieve Gallagher went boating with her family despite having a small cut on her leg
On July 27, 2025, Genevieve and her husband, Dana, took their 7-year-old daughter, Mila, boating in Pensacola Bay.
The family had done it before, and Genevieve had a small cut on her left leg at the time. She covered it with a waterproof bandage and rinsed the area with fresh water afterward, believing she had done enough to protect it.
For the next couple of days, everything seemed normal.
Then, on the third day, “all hell broke loose,” she told the media.
Genevieve was working at a hospital when she suddenly noticed that her left leg felt extremely hot and had started swelling.
“I ran to the bathroom, and I had an ankle bracelet on. The ankle bracelet was actually embedded in my leg,” she recalled.
She used a pair of medical shears to cut it off and was horrified by what she saw.
Her leg had turned black, and bubbles of liquid were beginning to appear across the skin.
She immediately went to the emergency room, where doctors diagnosed her with vibriosis, a bacterial infection caused by Vibrio.
The infection quickly became life-threatening
Vibrio bacteria can enter the body through an open wound exposed to saltwater or brackish water, particularly during warmer months. It can also be contracted by eating contaminated seafood.
In some severe cases, the infection can develop into necrotizing fasciitis, a rapidly progressing condition in which infected tissue dies. This is where the frightening nickname “flesh-eating bacteria” comes from.
For Genevieve, the infection progressed rapidly.
“I was taken back for immediate surgery, where my body began to shut down,” she later told the media.
“Every organ in my body began to fail. I went septic. I was intubated for six days and almost lost my life.”
She was eventually transferred to another hospital for more advanced treatment.
When she woke up, she discovered that surgeons had removed a significant portion of her leg.
“I woke up, and a lot of my leg was missing at the bottom,” she recalled.
The mother now has a warning for anyone heading into the water
After experiencing the infection firsthand, Genevieve has urged people not to take even small cuts lightly when swimming or boating.
“If you have any open cuts at all, mosquito bites that you have scratched, do not shave the night before you get into the water,” she warned.
“Just anything. It’s so serious, and you can get it. You can get it. So do not take that chance [with] your life.”
Despite everything she went through, Genevieve said she isn’t giving up on going to the beach.
Instead, she hopes her experience will make other people think twice before entering coastal waters with an open wound.
Vibrio infections continue to raise concerns across Gulf Coast states
Genevieve’s warning comes as several Gulf Coast states have reported cases and deaths linked to Vibrio infections.
According to the figures cited in the original report, Florida had recorded 17 cases and three deaths as of August 26, 2026, while additional fatalities had been reported in Louisiana.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that around 80,000 cases of vibriosis occur in the U.S. each year, with many caused by consuming contaminated food.
People with certain underlying health conditions, particularly liver disease or weakened immune systems, can face a higher risk of severe infection. Health officials also recommend protecting your feet from cuts caused by rocks and shells when entering coastal waters.
Experts are also looking at new ways to monitor Vibrio in coastal areas. University of Florida professor Antar Jutla told Fox 35 that satellite technology could eventually help track and predict where these pathogens are likely to appear.
For Genevieve, though, the message is much simpler: a tiny cut may not seem like a big deal, but exposing it to warm coastal water can have devastating consequences.
For anyone planning to enjoy a Holiday at a beach or lake, make sure to keep yourself as safe as possible.
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