Jessica Holbrook, 23, died at her grandmother’s house five days after she started having flu-like symptoms
An aspiring paramedic died from sepsis just days after she started to complain of a cold, tickly cough and sore throat.
Jessica Holbrook, 23, died at her grandmother’s house, after attending the GP’s twice where she displayed flu-type symptoms.
Tragically when her paramedic colleagues and friends were called to the home they were unable to help and pronounced her dead at the scene.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body’s response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs.
It leads to shock, multiple organ failure and, potentially, death especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.
Father, Leigh, 49, said: ‘Jessica was a beautiful, bubbly person, who was very hard-working. It was her dream to become a paramedic and she was working towards that career.
‘Jessica was so well-loved, not only by her family but by all her friends.
‘None of us can believe she has gone and that she will never get to fulfil all the dreams and ambitions she had.’
Jessica, from Brierley, in South Yorkshire, worked for Yorkshire Ambulance Service organising routine ambulance appointments, including Barnsley Hospital.
Jessica (pictured) worked for Yorkshire Ambulance Service organising routine ambulance appointments and hoped to become a paramedic. Her father Leigh said it was ‘her dream’ and she was ‘working towards that career’
When working at Barnsley Hospital she would often stay at the house of her grandmother, Barbara Robinson.
Jessica first started feeling unwell on Saturday, 9 December and she attended an out of hours GP appointment with flu type symptoms.
She had been staying at her grandmother’s house on 12 December in preparation for work the next day.
However, she unusually phoned in sick and attended another out of hours GP appointment on the evening of 13 December.
Throughout the night Jessica’s condition deteriorated and on the morning of 14 December paramedics were called but she was pronounced dead.
Barbara, 76, said: ‘During the night Jessica was restless and struggled to sleep.
‘At first she said she was tired and cold, but then was really hot and sweaty. Later that morning she was sick and so we phoned an ambulance.
‘By this point it was just manic and all a blur. The paramedics who arrived were Jessica’s friends. They did everything they could but she didn’t make it.’
Jessica’s father Leigh, added: ‘All of Jessica’s family are so grateful for the love and support people have shown since she died.
‘There is not a day goes by where all her family don’t miss her.
‘Whilst nothing can bring her back, all we can hope for now is that others recognise the symptoms of sepsis before it’s too late.
‘If by raising awareness of how dangerous sepsis can we save a life then Jessica’s death may not have been in vain.’
A two-day inquest into Jessica’s death is due to start at Sheffield Coroner’s Court on October 1.