Caller tells Eddie Mair shocking sepsis story

17 January 2020, 17:23 | Updated: 17 January 2020, 17:29

This teenage caller told Eddie Mair a shocking sepsis story - her boyfriend appeared to have a cold and in under 24 hours was in hospital in an induced coma.

It has been found that sepsis has overtaken cancer as the world's biggest killer with the condition accounting for one in five of all deaths, according to research published in The Lancet. Thankfully, caller Connie's boyfriend survived.

"Within 24 hours of the plane landing, my boyfriend was in intensive care on a respirator after being diagnosed with pneumonial sepsis," she said, sharing that he was put into an induced coma which was "terrifying."

On the flight "he seemed like he just had a cold" and she said as soon as they got to the hotel, "the onset of symptoms was so fast. His speech slurred, he had an intense fever, I think the doctor measured that at over 100 degrees, severe breathlessness," she said.

The reason she called the doctor was because his skin was looking mottled which she knew to be one of the signs of sepsis due the fact her friend's dad recently contracted the condition.

"It's ridiculous really how fast the symptoms of sepsis can fly in," Connie said and revealed her boyfriend is now out of intensive care and being discharged from hospital today.

"He's only 25 so he managed to fight it extremely quickly compared to many people that contract sepsis," she said, sharing that she was only 19 herself. Connie remarked that you don't expect it to happen to a young healthy person but of someone elderly or whose immune system is compromised.

"It really shows that it genuinely can happen to anybody and if you don't know the signs it can get very critical very quickly," she said and congratulated Amsterdam for its "incredible" care and "within minutes" had paramedics on the scene.

More Eddie Mair

Eddie Mair's heated row with Sir Iain Duncan-Smith on cost of living measures

Eddie Mair's heated row with Sir Iain Duncan Smith on cost of living measures

Where to seek help if you're impacted by the cost of living crisis

Where to seek help if you're impacted by the cost of living crisis

Eddie Mair scrutinises Tory MP who backs Liz Truss over her stance 'on woke'

Eddie Mair scrutinises Tory MP who backs Liz Truss over her stance 'on woke'

Furious caller clashes with climate scientists over 'pointless' net-zero targets

Furious caller clashes with climate scientists over 'pointless' net zero targets

Eddie Mair lists Ministers with the power to oust Boris Johnson

Eddie Mair lists Ministers with the power to oust Boris Johnson

'Horrific': LBC listeners reveal chilling experiences of stalking

'Horrific': LBC listeners reveal chilling experiences of stalking

'Scotland is inept': Scottish caller furious over idea of IndyRef 2

'Scotland is inept': Scottish caller outraged at idea of IndyRef 2

Texas Republican: Ensuring doors work properly will stop school shootings

Texas Republican: Ensuring doors work properly will stop school shootings

'You don't need a crystal ball!': Furious Eddie Mair corners Tory MP on cost of living crisis

'You don't need a crystal ball!': Furious Eddie Mair corners Tory MP on cost of living crisis

Exclusive
Kremlin chaos: Putin 'constantly surrounded by doctors' as illness throws regime in disarray

Putin 'constantly surrounded by doctors' as illness throws Kremlin into chaos

Tory MP: 'Oil companies have a cartel monopoly' over consumers

Tory MP: 'Oil companies have a cartel monopoly' over consumers

Jack Monroe slams Tory MP's 'abhorrent' food bank comments

Jack Monroe slams Tory MP's 'abhorrent' food bank comments

Tory MP accuses peer of 'hyperbole' over anti-protest bill concerns

Tory MP accuses peer of 'hyperbole' over anti-protest bill concerns

'Prime Minister in waiting!' Starmer saluted after Covid fine resignation pledge

'Prime Minister in waiting!' Starmer saluted after Covid fine resignation pledge

From Covid infection to being fined: Eddie Mair's painstaking timeline on partygate and Boris

From Covid infection to the fine: Eddie Mair's painstaking timeline on partygate and Boris

Partygate fines: Eddie Mair grills Tory MP Sir Roger Gale over PM future

Partygate fines: Eddie Mair grills Tory MP over PM's future