A former US soldier is suing a hospital claiming that excessive ice-pack treatment on his groin led to the amputation of his penis.

Michael Nash claims that a nurse repeatedly put ice packs on him after surgery, causing frostbite and gangrene.

Mr Nash sued the federal government, responsible for the service veterans' hospital, in US District Court in Kentucky, seeking 10 million dollars in damages for what he calls medical malpractice.

Nash went to the hospital in Lexington for the surgery. His lawyers said a nurse packed his groin in ice for 19 hours afterward and a significant part of his penis later had to be amputated.

They said Mr Nash will require reconstructive surgery.

Belfast Telegraph