Dr Neil Hopper: From Respected Surgeon to Shocking Deceiver
For years, Dr Neil Hopper was praised as a hero. A surgeon who lost both his legs, he was held up as proof of human strength and resilience. He gave interviews, fronted campaigns, and was even celebrated with a national bravery award.
But in court this week, the truth finally came out, and it is deeply disturbing.
The story that fooled a nation
Back in 2020, Hopper stood proud at the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons. Judges praised him for returning to surgery on prosthetic legs just months after his amputations. Many saw him as the man who had beaten all odds.
But it was a lie. Hopper hadn’t lost his legs to sepsis, as he claimed. He had destroyed them himself, sitting for hours with his feet plunged into ice until the damage was beyond repair. Why? Because he had a sexual obsession with becoming an amputee.
UK SURGEON GUILTY IN BIZARRE SEXUAL FETISH AMPUTATION SCANDAL
Dr. Neil Hopper, once celebrated as “Britain’s bravest” after losing both legs, has admitted in court that his amputations were not due to sepsis, but the result of a sick obsession.
The 49-year-old vascular… pic.twitter.com/0IGkzzlL4X
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 4, 2025
Links to a twisted network
Police uncovered messages between Hopper and Marius Gustavson, known as the “EunuchMaker.” Gustavson is now serving life for carrying out brutal mutilations and streaming them online.
The messages showed Hopper asking how much dry ice to use, how to manage the pain, and even boasting: “It’s going to be awesome being a double amputee.”
Fraud and pornography charges
In court, Hopper admitted to fraud and possessing extreme pornographic videos showing men undergoing horrific procedures. He was jailed for 32 months.
He had also claimed nearly half a million pounds from insurance companies and thousands more from the government. That money went on home renovations, a campervan, and even a hot tub.
Shock among patients and colleagues
Former patients have been left horrified, with some now questioning whether their own surgeries were really necessary.
Lawyer Mike Bird, representing several of them, said: “Neil Hopper has caused shock and grave concern among his former patients. Some have had life-changing surgery and are now worried it was not really needed.”
The NHS trust where Hopper worked insists there’s no sign patients were ever in danger – but the trust of many has already been broken.
From inspiration to scandal
Until his downfall, Hopper was a familiar face on TV and social media. He called himself the “bionic surgeon” and campaigned for better NHS care for amputees. His journey was even made into a documentary.
But now, every achievement looks different. What once seemed inspiring is overshadowed by deceit, obsession, and betrayal.
The man once hailed as a symbol of bravery will now be remembered for one of the darkest scandals in British medicine.
