Uni student, 21, who thought she had a ‘bad hangover’ was hours from death after tonsillitis

A UNIVERSITY student who brushed off her symptoms as a bad hangover was in fact hours away from death – after developing a life-threatening reaction to tonsilitis. Elle Black, 21, was in her first year of studies when she woke up feeling “dreadful” after boozy evening. Elle Black, 21, brushed off her symptoms as a bad hangover from a night out Credit: SWNS But Elle in fact had sepsis, which nearly killed her Credit: SWNS She and her friends all assumed she must be suffering from a particularly bad hangover, so she didn’t get treatment at first. But Elle realised something was seriously wrong as her symptoms worsened and she started feeling overwhelmingly drowsy, nauseous and feverish. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! Elle had an online GP consultation and was prescribed antibiotics for suspected laryngitis – but by that point, Elle was already too unwell to collect the prescription. The 21-year-old went to hospital when she started getting intense muscle pain. She was told she had sepsis, a life-threatening reactions to an infection, and if she had waited just 12 hours longer she may not have survived. Elle was 18 and studying Media, Journalism and Culture at Cardiff University when she became ill. It was 2024, and she’d spent the previous evening watching Six Nations with friends. She said: “Naturally, everyone, including me at first, assumed I was just suffering from a bad hangover. Most read in Health What is sepsis? Sepsis can develop from something as ordinary as a urinary tract infection, flu, or a cut that becomes infected. When sepsis strikes, the immune system’s response to an infection rapidly spirals out of control. It starts attacking not just the infection, but everything else around it, including the body’s own tissues and organs. The condition is treatable but if not diagnosed promptly, it can lead to septic shock, multiple organ failure and in worst cases, death. Anyone can develop sepsis, but babies and children, older adults, pregnant and postpartum women, and people with weakened immune systems are at greatest risk. Sepsis in previously healthy adults can progress to septic shock in a matter of hours. That’s why it’s crucial to familiarise yourself with the common symptoms of sepsis – it could save a life, maybe even your own. Sepsis symptoms in adults: A very high or low body temperature Uncontrollable shivering Confusion or disorientation Passing less urine than normal Blotchy or cold arms and legs Fast, or difficulty in, breathing Rapid heartbeat Extreme pain or discomfort Feeling dizzy or faint Mottled or discoloured skin Any one of these symptoms alone may point to something else. But if you or someone you know shows several together, and they are getting worse, don’t wait – seek medical attention immediately. Source: Sepsis Research FEAT “I later realised this wasn’t a hangover or a virus. It was something much more serious. I went straight to hospital. “I was overwhelmingly drowsy, couldn’t keep food down, and swinging between hot and cold. That’s when I knew this wasn’t a hangover.” When Elle arrived at hospital, she told the team she was worried it could be sepsis. They took her seriously immediately. She was triaged within 15 minutes and less than half an hour after arriving, she was already receiving IV antibiotics and fluids. Elle said: “That speed is the reason I’m still here.” Doctors later confirmed that her sepsis had developed from quinsy – a serious complication of tonsillitis, where pus-filled abscesses form near the tonsils. Elle was started on IV antibiotics and fluids at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, before later moving onto oral antibiotics as she improved. She remained in hospital for several days while doctors monitored her condition and confirmed the infection was under control. Before she was discharged, doctors told Elle if she had waited even 12 hours longer before seeking help, her outcome could have been very different. She added: “Hearing that really brought home just how serious sepsis is, and how important it is to recognise the symptoms and act quickly. “I’m incredibly grateful that I trusted my instincts when I did.” At the time, Elle didn’t fully grasp how serious her condition was and it was only a few days later, as she began to recover, that the full reality of how ill she had been set in. Her mum still describes it as the scariest day of her life. “As soon as she realised how seriously ill I was, my family dropped everything and got to the hospital as quickly as they could,” Elle says. “Like many people, they knew very little about sepsis beforehand. “It opened all our eyes to how quickly it can develop, and how it can affect absolutely anyone, regardless of age or how healthy they are. “Recognising the symptoms of sepsis, trusting my instincts and getting to hospital quickly made all the difference to my recovery,” Elle adds. Elle, who now works at a retirement village in Warwickshire, has now made a full recovery – but she said getting there took time. She explained: “Sepsis really takes it out of you. Even after the infection had been treated, I was left feeling exhausted for weeks. “It’s completely changed my perspective. I no longer take my health for granted, and I’m much more aware of listening to my body and trusting my instincts.” Elle is sharing her story because she wants people to understand that sepsis can happen to anyone, at any age, at any level of fitness. “Looking back, recognising the symptoms and seeking help when I did is what saved my life,” she said. “I also believe we need to do more to educate young people about sepsis. “I think recognising the symptoms of sepsis should be a mandatory part of university induction. “It could be the difference between seeking help in time – or dismissing it as something less serious. “Students are often living away from home for the first time and making decisions about their own health. “Knowing what sepsis looks like could make the difference between seeking help in time or dismissing the symptoms as something less serious.” Her advice to others was to trust their instincts. “If you or someone you know becomes suddenly and seriously unwell, don’t be afraid to seek urgent medical help. “It is always better to be checked than to wait, because with sepsis, every minute matters.” Sepsis Research FEAT said: “We are so grateful to Elle for sharing her story to raise awareness of sepsis among students and young people, and for campaigning for sepsis symptom recognition to become part of university induction. “If you are a student who has suffered with sepsis and would like to share your story, please get in touch. Raising awareness of sepsis saves lives.” Comment now