When Andrew Kane († 31) was bitten by a horse fly while working on the farm, he did not take it seriously at all. Only a red spot and a slight itch appeared on his hand. The doctors prescribed him antibiotics and the problem seemed to be solved. A few weeks later, however, the young farmer died of sepsisinforms about it
Andrew collapsed during an evening out with friends and was hospitalized in Cramlington Hospital. Despite the fact that doctors fought for his life and for a time he seemed to be recovering, the disease returned with even greater force. He died on September 18. His mother Rachel Kane, 52, who was with him throughout his stay in hospital, described the tragedy as a “nightmare”.
“He was a strong boy. I never thought a simple fly bite could do something like that.” she said. “It started to get worse very quickly. I was with him until the end. I feel completely broken,” added the mother.
Andrew came from a farming family from the town of Widdrington. He worked mainly on dairy farms throughout the UK, but also dabbled in painting and decorating. He had a daughter and lived with his mother in Morpeth. It was she who convinced him to go to the doctor two months ago after being bitten by an insect while working on a farm in Shrewsbury. “He didn’t take it seriously. The wound was red and itchy, but it wouldn’t heal. Despite the antibiotics, he developed an open wound.” Rachel recalls.
While drinking with a friend, he suddenly collapsed and was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed sepsis. He spent five weeks in artificial sleep in the intensive care unit at Newcastle’s Freeman Hospital. Doctors initially believed that he would recover from the disease, but the infection returned and began to rapidly attack his organs.
“His organs began to fail one by one. I was with him day and night. When he woke up, he kept asking if I had told his friends that he was in the hospital. He said: If you don’t tell them, they won’t come to my funeral. I think he knew what was going on.” said the mother.
Andrew wished during his hospitalization bring chocolate for the nurseswho took care of him. “He wanted to thank them,” said the mother with tears in her eyes. After his death, the mother learned how many people her son knew and how popular he was. “His friends, whom I had no idea about, are contacting me. Everyone says he was funny, kind-hearted and had a big heart. He was a family type, very protective. We were extremely close” recalls Rachel.
It’s sepsis life threatening conditionwhich occurs when the body reacts to an infection with an exaggerated immune response. As a result, it begins to attack its own tissues and organs, which can lead to shock, organ failure and death, if not treated immediately.
The most common symptoms include:
- confusion, slurred speech, tiredness,
- severe chills, fever or low temperature,
- shortness of breath, rapid breathing,
- inability to urinate for several hours,
- mottled or pale skin,
- a rash that does not fade when pressed.
Sepsis often begins inconspicuously and can resemble the flu or stomach problems. If these symptoms appear, you should seek medical attention immediately and ask: “Couldn’t it be sepsis?”
