What began as a typical case of Freshers' Flu rapidly spiralled into a life-or-death battle for 18-year-old university student Anya Owen. The aspiring law student from Cornwall almost became a tragic statistic after a severe sore throat revealed itself to be a deadly sepsis infection.
Anya's ordeal started during her first weeks at the University of the West of England in Bristol. Like thousands of new students, she developed what seemed like ordinary flu symptoms. But within days, her condition deteriorated alarmingly.
"I woke up with what I thought was just a bad sore throat from Freshers' Week," Anya recalls. "But quickly, I developed a high fever, started vomiting, and became so weak I couldn't even stand up."
Her concerned flatmates found her collapsed on the bathroom floor and immediately called for an ambulance. Paramedics recognised the critical signs of sepsis and rushed her to Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The Terrifying Diagnosis
Doctors delivered the shocking news: Anya was suffering from sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection that was attacking her own body's tissues and organs. The condition had developed from a severe case of tonsillitis.
"The doctors told my parents I might not make it through the night," Anya reveals. "My body was shutting down. I was put into an induced coma and on a ventilator while they fought to save me."
She spent ten agonizing days in intensive care, undergoing multiple blood transfusions and powerful antibiotic treatments to combat the infection that threatened her life.
Learning the Warning Signs
Now recovering and sharing her story to raise awareness, Anya emphasizes the importance of recognising sepsis symptoms:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- Mottled or discoloured skin
- A high fever accompanied by vomiting
"I was lucky my flatmates acted so quickly," says Anya. "Sepsis can kill within hours. If you suspect it, don't wait - seek immediate medical help and ask 'could it be sepsis?'"
Her message to other students is clear: never dismiss severe flu-like symptoms, especially during the hectic Freshers' period when immune systems are vulnerable.
