A Welsh rugby player is hoping pictures of the injury he received in a game can raise awareness of a little known medical condition that left him potentially hours away from losing his leg.
Carmarthen Athletic Druids hooker William Rowberry played on to the bitter end of their Castell Howell Plate semi-final victory over Nantgaredig after receiving a stamp to his left leg five minutes into the second half.
But in the changing room afterwards his leg started swelling considerably, and four hours after being taken to hospital, the 26-year-old senior child care officer was on the operating table.
He was diagnosed as suffering from acute compartment syndrome, an injury more associated with motorcycle crashes where blood vessels become blocked leading to severe pain and swelling.
He underwent two operations and was told by specialist, he could have lost his leg.
The player is now calling on the WRU to raise awareness of the condition to avoid the scenario of a player having a limb amputated through ignorance.
"I knew something wasn't right after taking my sock off in the changing room. Putting ice on my leg made it even worse through they hyper sensitive nature of the injury," said William.
"I went to Glangwili Hospital and I'm so grateful to the A&E nurses there as they picked up on the symptoms.
"They commented how shiny my skin was and spoke to one of the senior consultants in the hospital.
"Within four hours of arriving I was being operated on. I've broken bones in the past but never experienced pain like that in all my life.
"The bottom of my foot had turned blue. It was like someone had lit a fire inside my leg and you can't do anything about it.
"I just watched my leg expand, getting bigger and bigger.
"From my calf down it was like I had a big light bulb in my leg."
The only crumbs of comfort came with the fact his acute compartment syndrome injury was confined to one area of his leg meaning the surgeon didn't have to open up both sides of the limb.
But had he left going to hospital any longer and headed back to watch an Elvis Tribute night back in the Carmarthen Athletic clubhouse, William admits the consequences could have been unthinkable.
Rhys Webb's big decision revealed as he tells Toulon what he intends to do
"When you get swelling of any kind toxins are released and they can't go anywhere," he added.
"After a certain time, around six hours, it starts to go back into the bone and muscles and then that's when it becomes more of a problem and limb threatening.
"After having the stitches taken out, the doctor told me I was very lucky I got there on time. Any longer and the danger was I could have lost my leg.
"They had to leave the wound open for 48 hours and then they had to go back in to check if any of the tissue or muscle had died."
Wales Grand Slam star Josh Navidi reveals the true agony of having his forearm ripped from elbow
He's now hoping his injury can help raise awareness of the medical condition.
"The reason I put the tweet out is because this came from something so simple as a stamp on the leg," he added.
"It's not a common injury, and when I was diagnosed with the problem, I had a lot of nurses and doctors taking a look to see the warning signs.
"I'm trying to get the WRU's attention to train club officials in what to look for because it could save someone's leg in the future.
"When I was in the clubhouse at Nantgaredig some of the boys were giving me grief about going to hospital when it looked like I had only gone over on my ankle.
"This has put me off rugby for the moment because it's at the back of your mind going forward."
