Ruth Codd, the beloved star of Celebrity Traitors and Netflix's The Midnight Club, has publicly announced she has undergone her second below-knee amputation following years of debilitating pain and joint damage.
The Full Circle Moment
In a characteristically humorous video update shared with fans, the 29-year-old actress revealed what she described as a 'full circle moment' - returning to create TikTok content from her parents' house, though with significant changes from her earlier social media days.
'The good news is that we've had a full circle moment and I'm back making TikTok content in my parents' house,' Ruth joked in her announcement. 'The bad news is that I can't do it in front of that lovely, floral blue wallpaper anymore due to the fact that that room is upstairs and I've just had my second below knee amputation.'
A Decade-Long Battle With Pain
The roots of Ruth's medical journey trace back to her teenage years. At just 15 years old, she suffered a serious leg injury while playing football that resulted in permanent nerve damage and constant pain.
Despite multiple surgical attempts to correct the issue, medical professionals were unable to alleviate her suffering. After nearly ten years of living with chronic pain, Ruth made the difficult decision to undergo her first below-knee amputation.
The recent second amputation became necessary due to complications arising from her reliance on crutches over an eight-year period. Ruth explained that she was consistently on her tiptoes when using crutches, which ultimately 'destroyed' the joints in her feet beyond medical repair.
Embracing A New Chapter
With her trademark wit and resilience, Ruth introduced fans to her new wheelchair, which she affectionately nicknamed 'Fat Tony'. She quipped about its limited capabilities, noting it has 'the top speed of f*** all per hour, especially if there's a step involved.'
In a candid Instagram video, Ruth revealed the extent of damage to her remaining foot, stating: 'I've already had to have all my toes amputated, and so I have no toes and so my foot looks like a little hamburger.'
During a tattoo session, she further elaborated on her decision: 'It was just my quality of life and it's never going to get any better from this point so they can only really stop it from getting worse. The amount of health problems and stuff I've had this past year – I haven't let it stop me from doing anything but I feel like it has hindered me and made my ability to do my job more difficult.'
Breaking Barriers in Entertainment
Ruth's career has been marked by significant achievements despite her physical challenges. She first gained attention through TikTok in 2020, where she documented her journey of self-acceptance while navigating life with a disability.
Her social media presence led to being scouted for acting roles, including appearances in The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher. Most notably, she recently starred as amputee warrior Phlegma the Fierce in the live-action remake of How To Train Your Dragon.
Ruth has praised the franchise for its meaningful disability representation, noting that in the original animated film, both main characters Hiccup and Toothless experience limb loss but successfully adapt to their new circumstances.
Looking toward the future with characteristic optimism, Ruth expressed confidence that she'll be 'pretty unstoppable' following her second amputation, demonstrating the same resilience that has characterised her public journey and successful entertainment career.
