CRYSTAL BEACH – Fishermen frequent Crystal Beach, getting waist deep in the Gulf to cast lines for speckled trout.

But Steve Gilpatrick, 58, caught something else while fishing ankle deep in the surf he never expected.

“Right,” said Linda Gilpatrick, his wife. “Never expected it."

The Nacogdoches man contracted vibrio vulnificus, better known as flesh eating bacteria, on July 8 through a cut on his leg.

What happened next is frightening.

In less than a day, the fast moving bacteria moved up his leg discoloring it and painfully destroying his skin. Blisters soon developed a half-inch thick.

The 58-year-old diabetic almost lost his leg -- and nearly his life.

"They were able to keep him away from total organ failure,” Linda continued. “We were very close.”

Flesh-eating bacteria lives in the warm Gulf waters. People rarely are infected. The Texas Department of Health said it only records a couple dozen cases a year. Twelve so far in 2007, said TDH spokesman Doug McBride.

"It seems like there are so many more out there than the numbers say because we have had so many calls from people we don't even know,” added Erin Gilpatrick, Steve’s daughter.

In fact, experts believe the real number of flesh-eating bacteria cases is much higher. Many go unreported. What's worrisome though is this warm water bacteria is now being discovered in cold water, in places like Alaska, Sweden and along the eastern seaboard.

"There's no question the water temperatures are increasing,” explained Dr. James Oliver, microbiologist, University of North Carolina at Charlotte. “We are seeing higher numbers now, so it's likely now the wound infection rate will be increasing.”

Family courtesy photo

Steve Gilpatrick's leg after a scratch turned into flesh eating disease.

Increasing in new places. Though divisive and debated, some scientists believe global warming may explain the bacteria's spread from the Gulf to colder waters in the north.

Though anyone can be infected, those with weakened immune systems, like diabetic Gilpatrick, are most susceptible.

Regardless Dr. Oliver said the growing threat of flesh-eating bacteria shouldn't scare people from the beach.

“I've been studying this bacterium for over 25 years,” he said. “It has never stopped me from going to the coast and having enjoyable recreational activities.”

Gilpatrick has been going to the Galveston area for almost as long.

He's in critical but stable condition in a second-floor care unit at John Sealy Hospital.

Doctors removed all the skin from his right leg and in five surgeries have started grafting new pieces on it.

"He didn't know that this was there, and if you had a compromised immune system such as diabetes that you could easily get it,” said his daughter Erin. “If he would have known he never would have gotten in the water.”

11 News: "Do you think he'll ever get back in the water?"

Erin: "No."

11 News: "Will you?"

Erin: [pauses] "Ummm. I'm not sure. I'm not going to say I won't."

The Gilpatricks don't think others should avoid the beach either but rather be aware of what's you can't see in the water.