News Corners

A man dubbed ‘Tree Man of Java’ is planning to get married after 4lb of bark were cut away.

Dede Koswara, 37, says he plans to get hitched now that he can use his hands and walk without pain.

Speaking from an Indonesian hospital, he told the Daily Telegraph website: “What I really want first is to get better and find a job. But then, one day, who knows? I might meet a girl and get married.”

Dede’s first wife left him and he lost his job because of his bizarre affliction.

At one point to feed his two children he joined a freak show with other victims of peculiar diseases.

But now, following a series of operations to cut away the tree-like growths, he can see the outline of his toes for the first time.

He has also become a sudoko addict now he can hold a pen.

He said he hopes that he will resume a normal life after two more operations to graft undamaged skin onto his hands, feet and face.

Since Dede cut his knee as a teenager, strange roots have been growing out of him.

A small wart developed on his lower leg and spread uncontrollably.

But last year US dermatology expert Dr Anthony Gaspari took up his case.

He concluded Dede’s odd affliction was caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a fairly common infection usually causing only small warts.

But in Dede’s case he had an extremely rare immune system deficiency, leaving his body unable to contain the warts.