Numptie Frostbite Alert!
Discussion
As Britain swelters, motorist suffers frostbite in air-conditioned Jag
Martin Wainwright
Tuesday August 12, 2003
The Guardian
Just when everyone was getting used to the weather, the heatwave showed its power to astonish and amaze yesterday - by producing its first case of frostbite.
A Manchester solicitor was diagnosed with the condition by his GP after driving from London with his air conditioning on maximum and directed at his midge-bitten foot.
Mike Ball, 46, went to the doctor after his toes turned numb and one of them started to lose its healthy pink colour and go black. Another then began turning blue - a combination usually associated with attempts on Everest or the poles.
"It was incredibly hot," said Mr Ball, who decided to make the 250-mile journey in his Jaguar XK8 sports car, using its air con as therapy for a more conventional heatwave injury.
"A day or so earlier I had been bitten by a mosquito or something in my garden so it was also a relief to feel the cool air on my foot.
"I slipped off my shoe and sock because my car is an automatic and I don't need to use my left foot. The air conditioning on Jaguars is very good so I had it on for just over an hour. I didn't realise anything was wrong until the next day when my foot was extremely painful."
Mr Ball's GP was also surprised but decided that there was no other explanation. He diagnosed mild frostbite and prescribed a cure which - for now at least - is available without even troubling the NHS.
Martin Wainwright
Tuesday August 12, 2003
The Guardian
Just when everyone was getting used to the weather, the heatwave showed its power to astonish and amaze yesterday - by producing its first case of frostbite.
A Manchester solicitor was diagnosed with the condition by his GP after driving from London with his air conditioning on maximum and directed at his midge-bitten foot.
Mike Ball, 46, went to the doctor after his toes turned numb and one of them started to lose its healthy pink colour and go black. Another then began turning blue - a combination usually associated with attempts on Everest or the poles.
"It was incredibly hot," said Mr Ball, who decided to make the 250-mile journey in his Jaguar XK8 sports car, using its air con as therapy for a more conventional heatwave injury.
"A day or so earlier I had been bitten by a mosquito or something in my garden so it was also a relief to feel the cool air on my foot.
"I slipped off my shoe and sock because my car is an automatic and I don't need to use my left foot. The air conditioning on Jaguars is very good so I had it on for just over an hour. I didn't realise anything was wrong until the next day when my foot was extremely painful."
Mr Ball's GP was also surprised but decided that there was no other explanation. He diagnosed mild frostbite and prescribed a cure which - for now at least - is available without even troubling the NHS.
Always the way! 
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