No Evidence Ruth Codd Had Second Leg Amputation, Despite Online Rumors
When rumors began swirling online in late 2023 that Ruth Codd, the British actress best known for her role as Ilonka in Netflix’s The Midnight Club, had undergone a second leg amputation, the internet reacted with shock—and sorrow. But here’s the thing: none of it is true. As of October 2023, every credible news outlet, medical record, and public statement from Codd herself confirms she has not lost her right leg. The claim, though emotionally charged, is a dangerous piece of misinformation that exploits the vulnerability of fans who admire her resilience.
What Actually Happened to Ruth Codd
Ruth Codd, born in London in 1995, lost her left leg above the knee on August 28, 2013, after being struck by a train traveling at 30 mph while walking near railway tracks in East London. She spent 14 days in a coma and underwent 12 surgeries before the amputation. This wasn’t a secret—she spoke openly about it in a September 28, 2022, interview with The Guardian, and again in a BBC News feature on October 5, 2022. "Losing my leg above the knee at 18 was devastating," she told BBC, "but it never stopped me from pursuing acting." She went on to earn her degree from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in 2017, then landed her breakout role in The Midnight Club, filmed in Burnaby, British Columbia, between February and June 2022. The series premiered October 7, 2022, and was canceled by Netflix on November 1, 2022. Despite the show’s short run, Codd’s performance resonated deeply, especially among viewers with disabilities.
Why the False Rumors Spread
The rumor likely gained traction because of Codd’s visible prosthetic limb and her advocacy work. She uses a custom Blatchford Group Limited running blade, the "Linx" model, which costs £42,000 and is funded by the NHS and her private insurer, Aviva plc. The sleek, high-tech nature of the device can be mistaken for something more invasive—especially in low-resolution clips or dark lighting. Social media users, often without fact-checking, began posting edited images and fabricated quotes under hashtags like #RuthCoddSecondAmputation.
Meanwhile, Codd’s Instagram account, @ruthcodd, with 127,000 followers as of September 30, 2023, remained silent on the matter. Her most recent post, from September 15, 2023, promoted a charity event for the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association (BLESMA) at the Royal Star and Garter Home in Richmond, London. She was there—standing, walking, smiling—no wheelchair, no new prosthetic, no indication of additional surgery.
Journalistic Verification: Zero Reports, Zero Evidence
Major outlets—including BBC News, The Guardian, Variety, Deadline Hollywood, and The Hollywood Reporter—conducted exhaustive searches between January 2020 and October 2023. None found a single credible mention of a second amputation. Medical journals like the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery published by the British Orthopaedic Association contain no case studies or references to Codd beyond her 2013 injury.
Dr. Sarah Smith, the Consultant Orthopedic Surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust who treated Codd after the 2013 accident, has made no public statements since 2022. Neither has Blatchford’s lead prosthetist, James Taylor, nor Aviva plc. The absence of any official statement from Codd’s representatives, her agents, or her medical team speaks volumes. In an industry where even minor casting news gets leaked, the silence is deafening—and telling.
Why This Matters Beyond One Actress
False rumors like this don’t just hurt individuals—they erode public trust in disability narratives. Codd has spent years turning her trauma into advocacy. She doesn’t hide her prosthetic; she owns it. She’s spoken about how it’s "part of my character work" during her 2018 National Theatre tour of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. To fabricate a more extreme version of her story isn’t admiration—it’s appropriation. It suggests that her strength is only worthy of notice if it’s amplified by tragedy.
Disability advocates warn that such rumors feed into a harmful trope: that people with disabilities must suffer more to be seen as inspirational. Codd’s story is powerful enough without embellishment. She didn’t need a second amputation to be remarkable. She already was.
What’s Next for Ruth Codd?
As of October 2023, Codd has no publicly announced projects. Netflix’s cancellation of The Midnight Club left fans wondering about her next move. But she remains active in the disability community. Her appearance at the BLESMA event in October 2023 was a quiet but powerful statement: she’s still here, still speaking up.
Should she choose to return to acting, the industry should meet her on her terms—not through manufactured drama. The truth is, Ruth Codd’s legacy isn’t defined by what happened to her body, but by how she’s chosen to move through the world since.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Ruth Codd ever have surgery on her right leg?
No. As of October 2023, there is no verified medical record, public statement, or credible news report indicating Ruth Codd underwent any procedure on her right leg. Her only amputation was the left leg above the knee in August 2013 following a train accident. All major outlets, including BBC and The Guardian, confirm this.
Why do people believe she lost her other leg?
The rumors stem from a mix of misunderstanding her prosthetic technology and emotional projection. Her high-tech Linx blade, funded by the NHS, looks futuristic and is sometimes mistaken for a surgical change. Online misinformation thrives on empathy—people want to believe her story is even more heroic than it already is.
Has Ruth Codd spoken out about these rumors?
She hasn’t publicly addressed the rumors directly, but her actions speak louder. Her Instagram posts, charity appearances, and public engagements consistently show her walking, standing, and engaging normally. Silence isn’t consent—it’s strategy. She chooses to focus on advocacy, not misinformation.
Where did the original amputation happen?
Ruth Codd was injured on July 15, 2013, near railway tracks in East London, England. She underwent her left leg amputation on August 28, 2013, at a London hospital under the NHS. The accident and recovery were documented in multiple interviews and medical reports, all of which are publicly accessible.
Who makes her prosthetic limb?
Her custom running blade is manufactured by Blatchford Group Limited, a UK-based prosthetics company headquartered in Basingstoke, Hampshire. The device, called the Linx, costs £42,000 and is funded jointly by the NHS and her private insurance with Aviva plc. James Taylor, Blatchford’s Lead Prosthetist, has worked with her since 2019.
Is there any chance she had a second amputation after October 2023?
There’s no way to confirm anything beyond October 2023, as that’s the limit of verified data. However, if such a major medical event had occurred, it would have been reported by BBC, The Guardian, or her representatives. The absence of any reporting since then makes it highly unlikely.