What began as a seemingly harmless grooming routine quickly escalated into a life-threatening nightmare for 22-year-old Jordan Fletcher, who was left clinging to life in a medically induced coma after pulling out an ingrown hair from his groin. Doctors gave him just a 4% chance of survival. His terrifying ordeal has since gone viral, sparking global disbelief over how something so minor could spiral into a near-fatal medical crisis.
Jordan’s story was first shared by his mother in a shocking interview with The Mirror. According to her, Jordan had noticed a painful bump after showering and assumed it was an ingrown hair. He used tweezers to remove it — something millions do casually every day. But within 48 hours, his leg was swollen, he had a high fever, and he was rushed to the hospital, unable to speak or walk.
What doctors found was horrifying. The ingrown hair had triggered a rare and aggressive bacterial infection that was quickly advancing toward sepsis. A consultant described it as “a perfect storm of inflammation, infection, and internal toxicity.” Jordan was placed into a coma and underwent multiple emergency surgeries. A viral TikTok by medical educator Dr. Karan Raj explained how even minor skin openings can allow dangerous pathogens to invade the bloodstream, especially near sensitive areas.
Jordan’s family was told to prepare for the worst. In a tearful video statement, his mother recalled sitting beside him while he was hooked up to life support. “They told us he had less than a 5% chance. I said goodbye, more than once.” Photos from the ICU show Jordan unconscious, surrounded by machines, his body bloated and bruised.
Thousands have reacted online. A tweet from Morning Brew detailing the incident racked up over 10 million views in 24 hours. “This is why I don’t touch ingrown hairs anymore,” one user commented. Another wrote, “Imagine dying because of tweezers. My anxiety is through the roof.” The comment threads have become a frenzy of shock, support, and fear-driven personal confessions.
Jordan miraculously survived. After weeks in a coma, he finally woke up, confused and unable to speak. In an emotional Instagram post, he shared a photo of himself in a wheelchair, captioned: “They said I wouldn’t make it. I did.” His face was thinner, his skin pale, but he smiled. Comments flooded in — thousands from strangers thanking him for sharing his story and calling it “life-saving information.”
The infection left Jordan with permanent internal scarring and temporary paralysis in one leg. He is undergoing rehab to walk again. Doctors told him he was “medically dead for almost 90 seconds” during one of the worst moments. In a Daily Mail interview, he said, “I pulled one hair. That’s it. I didn’t know it would nearly kill me.”
Medical experts have now weighed in. A 2019 study published in NCBI warned of a rise in deep tissue infections caused by home grooming injuries. Many people don’t realize that skin near the groin and underarms is particularly vulnerable to infection due to humidity and dense bacterial presence. Dermatologists recommend never picking, plucking, or breaking skin without sterile tools.
Jordan’s case is now being used in medical training at several UK hospitals. A LinkedIn post by a hospital director called it “a sobering reminder that the body is more fragile than we assume.” Even small decisions, he noted, can have massive consequences. “It’s our duty to educate patients on real risks. Jordan is lucky. Most aren’t.”
A GoFundMe launched by Jordan’s friends to help cover his recovery has raised over £35,000. You can view it here. It includes video updates, including one where Jordan emotionally thanks the nurses who “brought me back when I was almost gone.” He also urges others: “If you have an ingrown hair, go to a doctor. Don’t do what I did.”
As he continues recovery, Jordan plans to launch a YouTube channel detailing his survival. He shared a preview on Twitter with the caption: “From 4% chance to 100% fight. My story’s not over yet.” The clip ends with him walking a few steps unaided — a victory for someone who was once pronounced nearly dead over something most wouldn’t think twice about.
