The temptation to pull a stunt after a long-awaited leg amputation proved too much for Ken...

Keith Burrage's reaction to the news that he would have to have a leg amputated was not a reaction his nurse had ever encountered. Ken had been overweight since the age of 15. This, compounded by Diabetes had led to such a bad leg infection that amputation was the only option.

When Keith woke from the operation he was in strange ward with nurses he'd never met. The temptation to have a bit of a laugh was overwhelming. So when the nurse came to 'clean him up' and pulled down the covers, Ken said, "Oh my goodness, they've taken the wrong leg!"

The nurse went white and became very quiet. She kept on popping her head through the door but said nothing. When Ken's wife came in she was appalled by what he'd done, "You should be hung, drawn and quartered" she said.

The next visit was from the surgeon, who, like Ken, was a bit of a joker. He called in the nurse, and then said, "Now you're obviously aware that we've taken the wrong leg off!" Ken hadn't known that the doctor had been told the tale, and played along by saying, "Well it had occurred to me!", "Don't worry said the doctor, "we'll have the other one sorted in no time.."

Much as Ken likes a joke, he wasn't prepared to lose another leg over one, and had to own up to his small deceit. The nurse, who'd been holding his hand the whole time was squeezing him painfully by the end of the conversation. She changed jobs shortly afterwards.