• Groom forced to have partial toe amputations after receiving wedding shoes that were too tight.
• Despite complaints, NHS staff insisted the shoes just needed breaking in.
• Ill-fitting shoes led to severe injury, infection, and lasting foot damage.

What was meant to be one of the happiest days of his life turned into the beginning of a nightmare for Martin Ralph. The 61-year-old from Chesham, Buckinghamshire, ended up losing multiple toes after wearing a pair of wedding shoes that were far too tight.

Martin, who has diabetes and requires specially fitted footwear, received the orthotic shoes from the NHS just in time for his wedding to his wife Melissa, also 61, on July 27, 2019. But from the moment he slipped them on, something felt wrong. He says he immediately noticed the shoes were uncomfortably snug. Despite raising his concerns, he was told by medical staff that they simply needed to be “broken in.”

Wedding Shoes Caused Severe Pain Within Hours

During the wedding celebration, Martin managed to wear the shoes for only a few hours before the pain became unbearable. He ended up switching to his usual orthotic boots to make it through the rest of the day. “Halfway through the wedding, one foot was getting particularly sore,” he recalled. “When I took my sock off, my toe was three times the size it should’ve been.”

Over the next few weeks, things got worse. A blister formed on his right big toe, which eventually developed into an abscess. Doctors removed dead tissue and washed out the area, but the damage had already gone deep. The infection exposed the first joint, and the only option left was to amputate the toe at the knuckle.

Health Deteriorates in the Following Years

Martin’s foot didn’t recover as hoped. In the years following the wedding, he continued to have complications. Three more toes had to be amputated. The once-active father of four, who used to run a cleaning business, can no longer walk without help and has been forced to stop working.

Looking back, Martin says his feet were measured incorrectly three times. Each time, he voiced concerns, but those concerns went unheard. “I was measured at Amersham Hospital, but the shoes were clearly too small,” he said. “I returned three times told them they didn’t fit, but the person who took the measurements kept saying I needed to wear them in.”

NHS Trust Admits Responsibility and Apologizes

After taking legal action, the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust admitted fault and offered a formal apology. They acknowledged that if Martin had received properly fitting shoes, he likely wouldn’t have developed the blister that triggered the series of health problems.

In a statement, a Trust spokesperson said: “We are very sorry for the shortcomings of care Mr Ralph experienced between April and August 2019. His care fell below the standard we expect to provide. We are taking action to ensure this doesn’t happen again, including strengthening our protocols for assessing and monitoring patients at risk of foot complications.”

Martin Speaks Out in Hopes of Protecting Others

For Martin, the apology comes too late to change his physical condition, but he hopes his story will serve as a warning. “Losing my toe was horrific, but I thought that would be the end of it,” he said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t. Now I struggle with everyday things—just moving around is difficult.”

Martin says he has worked since the age of 17 and always led an active life. Now, with permanent damage to his foot, everything has changed. “It’s heartbreaking to know this could have been so easily avoided,” he added. “Nothing will bring back my toes or make walking easy again, but I hope sharing my story prevents someone else from going through this.”

Martin’s case underscores the importance of proper care, especially for patients with pre-existing conditions like diabetes. It’s a reminder of how something as seemingly simple as a pair of shoes can have life-altering consequences when the right steps aren’t taken.