The festive season, a time for family and celebration, has been forever changed for the Syer family. Their first Christmas without their 16-year-old son, Levi, was a heartbreaking milestone, following his sudden and devastating death from a deadly bacterial infection.
A Rapid and Fatal Decline
Levi Syer was an ordinary teenager who came home from school one sunny day in September complaining of aching muscles. He soon developed gastro-like symptoms, nausea, and lost his appetite, prompting his mother, Norliah Syer-Peterson, to book a GP appointment for the following day.
The situation deteriorated catastrophically overnight. At 1.30am, Norliah was woken by a loud crash from the bathroom. Levi's condition was rapidly worsening, and he had begun vomiting. When he became confused and incoherent, his desperate mother called emergency services.
"I've never seen him that sick in my life," Norliah said. "Then he asked me 'Am I going to die?' And of course, we're all like 'no'." Tragically, her worst fears were realised.
A Tsunami Through the Body
Levi was rushed to a children's hospital in Australia. Nearly 60 medics and specialists fought for over six hours to save him in intensive care. Purple blotches emerged on his face and body before he was intubated. Doctors informed the family his heart was failing and performed CPR for nearly 90 minutes.
He died less than 24 hours after his first symptoms appeared. The cause was sepsis triggered by the deadly bacterial infection meningococcal Type B (MenB).
"The paramedics did absolutely everything they could to save him," Norliah stated. "There was nothing more they could do as the doctor said it (meningitis) goes through the body like a tsunami."
A Vital Call for Awareness and Action
Levi had been immunised against Meningococcal ACWY at school, but this vaccine does not protect against the most lethal strain, meningococcal B. His mother is now imploring all parents to educate themselves about the risks of not receiving the MenB vaccine.
This tragedy has urgent relevance for the UK. Recent times have seen an uptick in meningitis fatalities, primarily due to an increase in MenB cases. The year 2022/23 witnessed a significant surge with 33 deaths, and a recent spike in cases among children aged one to four is particularly alarming.
The family's story is a stark reminder of the critical importance of recognising meningitis symptoms, which can include:
- A high temperature with cold hands and feet.
- Vomiting, confusion, and rapid breathing.
- Muscle and joint pain.
- Pale, mottled, or blotchy skin (this may be harder to see on brown or black skin).
- A rash that does not fade under a glass.
- Headache, stiff neck, and aversion to bright lights.
- Extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking.
Through their unimaginable grief, Levi Syer's family are determined to turn their loss into a lifeline for others, urging both parental vigilance and government action to prevent further tragedies.
