The father of a teenager who died after contracting meningitis has paid an emotional tribute to his “funny, sociable and kind” son, describing how the 17-year-old developed sepsis within hours of first feeling unwell.Lewis Waters, a sixth-form student at Henley College, died earlier this week after being rushed to intensive care.His father, Sean Waters, shared the heartbreaking news on social media, saying the family was struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss of their loved one.
“Words cannot describe heartbreak.”
“Within hours of feeling a little under the weather, he developed sepsis and was taken from us,” Sean wrote on Facebook. “He fought hard and was really cared for by the ICU team, but they just couldn’t save him.”
‘We are completely devastated’
His father described Lewis as a well-liked, cheerful teenager who was “funny, sociable and kind-hearted” and fiercely loyal to his family and friends.“He also loved his sisters, friends and family dearly,” he added. “Life will not be the same for many of us after his death.”
Two more students are receiving treatment
The tragedy comes as two other young people in Berkshire are also being treated for meningitis. Pupils attend Reading Blue Coat School, Highdown secondary school and Sixth Form Centre.HSE said it had identified social links between the three cases and confirmed that close contacts had been provided antibiotics as a precautionary measure.One case has been confirmed to be meningitis B and the remaining cases are undergoing further testing, officials said.
School sends message of support
Henley College said in a statement that it “extends its condolences and sincere condolences to the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”Meanwhile, Reading Blue School headteacher Pete Thomas described it as “a worrying time for families and the wider community”.“We are deeply saddened by the news of the death of a pupil at another local school,” he said.Highdown School also confirmed it has shared guidance with parents and pupils about the symptoms of meningitis.
Symptoms parents should watch out for
Doctors are urging families to remain vigilant, warning meningitis can quickly become life-threatening.Common symptoms include:
- high fever
- severe headache
- Vomit
- stiff neck
- sensitivity to light
- Confusion or drowsiness
- cold hands and feet
- muscle pain
- Use the ‘glass test’ for rashes that won’t go away under stress
Calls grow for expanded vaccination coverage
The incident has reignited concerns about meningitis B among young people, particularly those too old to receive the routine MenB vaccine introduced for infants in 2015.Freddie van Mierlo, the Lib Dem MP for Henley and Thame, urged the government to consider a wider catch-up vaccination program for teenagers and university-age students.Health officials have stressed that the current cases are not linked to a meningitis B outbreak in Kent earlier this year that resulted in two deaths.
