Jason "Buddy" Miller is a glass half-full kind of man, which is just as well given the curve ball life has thrown at him.

Key points: Buddy Miller thought he had the flu and put off seeing a doctor

Buddy Miller thought he had the flu and put off seeing a doctor He ended up with septic shock and had both hands and feet amputated

He ended up with septic shock and had both hands and feet amputated Doctors and family say he remained upbeat throughout his ordeal

Four months ago he was working as crew on Sydney's Manly ferry, spending his days travelling back and forth across the harbour. It was a job he loved.

But the 48-year-old has just spent more than 100 days in hospital and had both his hands and feet amputated, after what he thought was the flu nearly killed him.

It all started in October last year, just after he returned from a holiday in the Philippines.

"I had a sore throat, body aching. I should have gone to the doctors earlier but I waited an extra day to see if I could feel better and go back to work," he told 7.30.

Buddy Miller working on the Manly ferry. ( Supplied )

By the time he arrived at the emergency department at Sydney's Northern Beaches Hospital, he was critically ill with septic shock and organ failure.

"They told me I had one hour, that's all I had left in me. One hour and I wouldn't have made it," he said.

"That's how quick I went from having a great time to almost being dead."

Infectious diseases specialist Dr Michael Mina said "none of us thought he would survive".

"He had septic shock to the degree that probably most doctors have never seen before," Dr Mina said.

From a sore throat to being on life support

Buddy Miller in intensive care. As well as his hands and feet turning black, so did his lips and nose. ( Supplied )

At first doctors thought Buddy may have picked up a bug overseas.

"Every possible antibiotic was given to him, thinking of rare imported infections. But it turned out to be your bog standard streptococcus infection ... and aerococcus infection," Dr Mina said.

The doctors said that in its early stages, the infection could have been resolved with a simple dose of penicillin.

"When you have this overwhelming infection your circulation shuts down, you don't get enough blood going to your tissues and they die, and that's exactly what happened to him."

Buddy's family rushed to the hospital. His mother Clare Miller came from Taree on the New South Wales mid-north coast and has been with her son every day since.

"We just couldn't believe that in a matter of days he'd gone from having a sore throat to being on life support," sister-in-law Kate Munn said.

Buddy, in hospital when his hands were black, gets a hug from daughter Jhayda. ( Supplied )

Buddy regained consciousness after seven days to find his hands and feet were swollen and black. Doctors explained he would most likely lose them.

The sepsis and the drugs given to save his life had reduced blood circulation to his arms and legs.

Buddy is remarkably philosophical about the situation.

"They had to ... keep all the [vital] organs alive — my brain, my heart, my lungs and not worry about me extremities," he said.

"So I'm happy to have to lose my hands and my feet. I'm happy with that deal rather than not being here talking to you, so I'll take that deal any day."

'A delightful character'

Buddy Miller talks to orthopaedic surgeon Dr David Carmody before his leg amputation surgery. ( ABC News: Jerry Rickard )

Kate is not surprised Buddy is so upbeat and pragmatic.

"He's always had this 'she'll be right' attitude," she said.

The medical staff have also been touched by Buddy's sunny outlook.

"I will never forget the day I walked into the intensive care unit and saw him sitting up in bed and it struck me, this massive radiant smile," Dr Mina said.

"He was such a delightful character and thankful to be alive."

Doctors waited a number of weeks before the amputations, hoping that his hands and feet might re-vascularise and recover, but that did not happen.

Surgeons prepare Buddy Miller's lower legs for amputation. ( ABC News: Jerry Rickard )

Buddy's hands were amputated in January and orthopaedic surgeon Dr David Carmody performed a below-knee amputation on both his legs this month.

Before the operation, Dr Carmody told 7.30: "He can't move his feet at all and he can't move his ankles, so none of the tendons and muscles are alive, there is nothing there to keep the tissues alive, so any attempts at reconstruction would fail.

"We just want him to be able to get on with his rehab and get some prosthesis fitted, then he can at least walk."

'Are you going to be like a robot?'

Buddy Miller says daughter Jayda is "a good little trooper". ( ABC News: Jerry Rickard )

Buddy shares custody of his seven-year-old daughter Jhayda and was concerned she would be frightened when she first saw him.

"She found out daddy is going to lose his hands and feet, and she just said, 'What happens next?'," he said.

"I said they are going to give me new ones, and she says, 'What, are you going to be like a robot?' I went yes, I'll be like a robot. That was it.

"She's got no problem cuddling me. She's a good little trooper.

"For the rest of my life I want to be that daddy who's looking after her and protecting her."

Buddy's family is keenly aware there is a long road ahead as he recovers and plans the rest of his life. They are holding events to raise funds for his future and have started a GoFundMe page.

Buddy Miller with a stubby holder custom-made by a friend. ( ABC News: Jerry Rickard )

Kate knows there will be times when his positive outlook is tested.

'The sooner he can hit those dips, he can regain ground and start to move on," she said.

"He can no longer work his job, fetch a drink, toilet himself. It is a huge level of adjustment, but the fact that he can still throw his arms around his little girl, that's what makes all the difference."

Buddy remains upbeat.

"I've been lucky to have all the support I've got and happiness around me," he said.

"I've got through the danger part and the surgery part then I've got the rehab part, so I am now almost two parts then onto the third stage. Then the Paralympics!"

Watch this story on 7.30.