'I thought I was dying after catching meningitis'

A woman from Esher said she believed she was going to die in hospital after contracting meningitis at university.

In 2023, Alice Jenkins was busy celebrating the end of her first year at the University of Edinburgh, spending the week playing netball, clubbing and shopping.

But things quickly changed and Alice was left in agony, unable to leave her bed and showing flu-like symptoms, before a red rash began to appear all over her body.

One of her housemates had called for an ambulance to take her to hospital when she first fell ill, where her condition rapidly deteriorated. When she came around, Alice was surrounded by five doctors.

"I remember hearing of the possibility of being paralysed or losing limbs but I didn't really care, I thought I was going to die at this point," said Alice.

"I remember lying in the bed and feeling like I could just let go if I wanted to. I don't remember feeling anything really."

Alice said she was unable to move her body without help and could not speak.

She said: "The real trauma was for my family and friends, but my dad said he knew I was getting better when I started to bicker with him."

Alice was initially told she might spend up to three months in hospital but was allowed to go home after a week - calling it "a whirlwind experience".

The 23-year-old became an ambassador for charity Meningitis Now, which offers support to people affected by the infection and also funds research.

"There's so much that's unknown about meningitis, I could still develop side affects," she said.

"Some people only develop symptoms a long time after they have meningitis, I don't have any long-term side affects that I know of, I don't really know if I will develop any."

Meningitis Now said long-term symptoms could include acquired brain injury, emotional changes, hearing loss and sight problems.

Alice advises anyone who thinks they might have caught meningitis in the current outbreak in Canterbury to seek help, saying: "Your health is so important, don't be afraid to call an ambulance, you really have to look out for yourself.

"Go to the doctor, you are the best judge of if something is wrong with you, but just don't panic."

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