A 42-year-old builder caused a stir at Queen Hospital in Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, last November when he arrived with his skin mysteriously turned dark blue, resembling a character from Avatar. Medical staff, initially fearing an infectious disease or severe respiratory failure, immediately rushed him to an emergency bed and administered oxygen.

Tommy Lynch receiving oxygen from staff upon hospital admission. Photo: SWNS

According to The Telegraph on 13/3, the unusual incident began when a friend, who works in healthcare, noticed Tommy Lynch's tired appearance and dark blue complexion, prompting an urgent trip to the hospital. Lynch recalled being surrounded by about 10 doctors who peppered him with questions, staring as if they had seen a ghost. They reportedly stated they had never witnessed anyone with such a frightening skin color still alive.

The perplexing situation took a dramatic turn during the examination. A doctor, using an alcohol swab to wipe Lynch's arm, watched as the white gauze rapidly turned a deep blue. This simple action exposed the true cause: dye from a new set of navy blue bedsheets. Lynch had purchased and used the sheets for two consecutive nights, and the dye had transferred to his body.

Upon realizing the truth, the embarrassed builder apologized to the entire medical team. He later shared that his "cringeworthy" story provided a rare moment of stress-relieving laughter for the emergency doctors on duty that day. Back home, Lynch promptly washed the bedsheets and spent one full week soaking in a bathtub to remove the stubborn dye from his skin. From his experience, he advises consumers to always thoroughly wash new textile products before use to avoid similar awkward situations.

Binh Minh (According to BBC, The Telegraph)