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Sepsis survivor 'determined' to return to uni

FAMILY HANDOUT Hamish Wilson is standing smiling next to his sister IzzieFAMILY HANDOUT
Hamish Wilson's sister Izzie set up an online fundraising page which has raised £80,000 so far

The mother of an 18-year-old student from East Sussex who is facing a quadruple amputation after sepsis has described how he is "determined" to return to university.

Hamish Wilson, from Crowborough, had just started a philosophy degree at Southampton University when he became seriously ill at the end of October with pneumonia and meningitis, which caused life-threatening sepsis.

Last week, he had surgery to amputate his right hand, and is due to undergo further life-changing surgery to both his legs and his other hand on Thursday.

An online fundraising page set up by his sister Izzie has raised nearly £80,000 towards his recovery, which his mother, Jacqueline Wilson, says is "just incredible".

FAMILY HANDOUT Hamish with his mum Jacqueline and sister Izzie facing the camera and smiling, with bright blue sky and a mountain range behind themFAMILY HANDOUT
Hamish's mother, Jacqueline Wilson, says he already has plans to return to university

Describing her son as a tour de force, Ms Wilson told BBC Radio Sussex: "He's very loyal to his friends, he cares about people a lot."

Last weekend, Hamish's primary school teacher arranged an impromptu concert in Tunbridge Wells and his mother showed the footage to her son.

"It's just incredible, what's going on. He can't believe it," she said.

After spending some time at Southampton General Hospital, Hamish was transferred to Royal Papworth Hospital, in Cambridge, and is now being treated at St Thomas' Hospital in London.

He will be given prosthetic limbs once the amputations have been completed.

FAMILY HANDOUT Jacqueline Wilson sitting in her living room looking serious with reading glasses perched on the top of her head, with a table and lamp behind her, houseplants to the sideFAMILY HANDOUT
Jacqueline Wilson described her son as a determined tour de force

Ms Wilson says her son plans to return to university next September.

"His course is deferred. His friends have already got a room for him at the next house next year - on the ground floor - so they're being considerate about his needs.

"I think it's a really important goal for him. I think it helps him to have something to aim for," she said.

"He wants to pick up his life because he'd just started out.

"He was looking forward to enjoying university so he's determined to get back there. He will come home being able to walk on his prosthetics. That's the plan."

What is sepsis?

  • Sepsis is known as the "hidden killer" because it can be so hard to detect.
  • It is caused by the immune system going into overdrive. Instead of just fighting an infection, it starts attacking other parts of the body too.
  • Ultimately it causes organ failure. Even survivors can be left with long-term damage and disability.
  • Bacteria and viruses that cause diarrhoeal infections or lung diseases are the leading triggers of sepsis.
  • The symptoms include loss of consciousness, severe breathlessness, a high temperature, slurred speech, nausea and vomiting, diarrhoea and severe muscle pain.

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