04/01/2026
Knowing the signs can save lives The UK Sepsis Trust
Eight years ago, eighteen-year-old Bethany Walker tragically died after her pneumonia developed into sepsis. Now, Bethany's mum, Heather, is determined to raise awareness of the condition, and remains hugely grateful to the Air Ambulance team who got her daughter to hospital.
In 2017, Bethany's whole family came down with flu, but it was Hogmanay, so Bethany dosed herself and headed out. On New Year's Day she still felt poorly, but had also developed chest pains, and after a couple of visits to the doctor, was told she had the flu.
Just a few days later, Bethany was really unwell: she couldn't make it up the stairs, and had a temperature, a cough, and blotchy skin. By now, Heather suspected sepsis and rang for an ambulance, but due to bad weather conditions, was told it would have taken hours to reach the family home, in Applecross, by ambulance. Instead, an Air Ambulance was dispatched, and she got to hospital in 34 minutes.
Shortly after her arrival, Bethany was diagnosed with pneumonia and rushed into intensive care to have her lungs drained. The team had resuscitate Bethany twice before the decision was made to stop their efforts – tragically, she didn't make it. "I’d like to be sitting here saying I owe her life to these people, obviously, and I don’t", says Heather. "But what I do owe to them is knowing that everybody worked so, so hard. Everybody tried their absolute utmost to save her."
Now, Heather encourages people to talk to those who are grieving. "Ask how they are doing because it means everything", she says. "Maybe tell them that you're uncomfortable with speaking about it, but say you are there for them if they want to talk."
"Sepsis moves with lightning speed and if you know the symptoms, you're in with a chance of persuading the GP, the hospital, whoever, that if actually could be sepsis."
This New Year, take five minutes to learn the symptoms of sepsis. Our public sepsis assessment tool is also available across our website: https://sepsistrust.org/about-sepsis/spotting-the-signs-of-sepsis/
And if you, like Heather, are bereaved by sepsis, our Support Team are here to help with 1:1 support and our Support & Connect groups. You can find out more here: https://sepsistrust.org/get-support/
