Father shares unimaginable heartbreak after son dies inside hours of feeling sick

Sean Walters shared a heartbreaking post after his son Lewis Walters, a sixth form pupil, died in the ICU of a Reading hospital after developing meningitis and sepsis

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A father has revealed how his son “fought hard” after contracting meningitis and that the family is “absolutely devastated” following the sixth form student’s death. Sean Walters spoke of his anguish after Lewis Walters passed away in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Reading, Berkshire. He posted photographs of Lewis with his family on social media”, reports the Mirror.

Mr Walters wrote: ‘Words simply can’t describe the heartbreak and upset we’re going through. The early hours of yesterday we lost our Lewis. Within a few hours of feeling a bit ill he developed sepsis and was taken from us.

‘He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn’t save him. We are absolutely devastated. If you didn’t know Lewis, he was a funny, sociable kind hearted soul. He liked to include everyone and took great joy in winding me and Kate up.’

“He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn’t save him. We are absolutely devastated. If you didn’t know Lewis, he was a funny, sociable kind hearted soul. He liked to include everyone and took great joy in winding me and Kate up.”

Sean went to Henley College in Oxfordshire, which has been left in shock as has the village of Henley-on-Thames following his tragic death.

Meanwhile, the schools attended by two other pupils being treated for meningitis in Reading have been named. The patients attend Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.

Mr Walters said of Sean: “He also loved his sisters, friends and family dearly. Life won’t be the same for many of us now that he’s gone.”

In a statement released on Thursday, the UKHSA confirmed its specialists were “working with local authority and NHS partners following three cases of meningococcal infection (meningitis) in young people in Reading”.

“Dear patients. We have been in contact with the UK Health Security Agency this morning (14th May) regarding the very sad news that a student at Henley College has died with suspected meningococcal disease,” the GP surgery announced in a statement.

“They have confirmed that they are actively contacting those who may be at risk due to a close association with the student involved.

“If you have not been contacted by the UK Health Security Agency, then currently you do not require any treatment. Staff and students have been advised they can attend the college as usual.

“The number of confirmed cases is very low so there are currently no plans for a local emergency meningitis vaccination programme.”

Two students tragically lost their lives in a meningitis outbreak in the Kent area in March – 18 year old Juliette Kenny, who was described by her family as “fit, healthy and strong” prior to her passing, and a University of Kent student.

Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection, expressed: “We understand that many people will be affected by this sad news and would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of this student.

“Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried about the likelihood of further cases, however meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and large outbreaks as we saw in Kent recently are thankfully rare.

“We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts of the cases.

“Meningococcal disease does not spread easily and the risk to the wider public remains low.”

Meningitis Now’s chief executive Dr Tom Nutt stated: “Everyone at Meningitis Now is deeply saddened and concerned to hear reports of a suspected outbreak of meningitis affecting young people in Reading and the surrounding area, including the tragic death of a young person.

“We would urge people to remain vigilant and aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Meningitis can become life-threatening very quickly and early diagnosis and treatment are absolutely vital.”

According to Dr Nutt, symptoms can manifest in “any order” and may include a high temperature, severe headache, vomiting, stiff neck, sensitivity to light, confusion, drowsiness, cold hands and feet, severe muscle pain, and a rash that does not fade under pressure.

“Teenagers and young adults are among the groups most at risk from meningococcal disease, and the recent outbreak in Kent has shown how quickly cases can emerge,” he added.