Surgeon named ‘Bravest in Britain’ who told insurers he had his legs amputated due to sepsis charged with fraud

A “brave” vascular surgeon who told insurers he had his legs amputated due to sepsis has been charged with fraud.

Neil Hopper, 49, who carried out hundreds of amputations before having his own legs removed below the knees, is accused of telling insurers that the leg injuries were the “result of sepsis and were not self-inflicted”, intending to make a gain.

He has also been charged with encouraging someone else to remove the body parts of others.

Mr Hopper, of Truro in Cornwall, appeared before Cornwall Magistrates’ Court in Bodmin on Wednesday, charged with two counts of fraud by false representation, and a charge of encouraging or assisting in the commission of grievous bodily harm.

It is alleged that between 3 June and 26 June 2019, Mr Hopper dishonestly made a false representation to insurers.

It is also alleged that between 21 August 2018 and 4 December 2020, Hopper bought videos from The EunuchMaker website showing the removal of limbs, which “encouraged [website ringleader] Marius Gustavson to remove body parts of third parties”.

He was remanded in custody until his next court appearance at Truro Crown Court on 26 August.

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Source: The Independent, 23 July 2025