Economics student, 21 dies of suspected sepsis just FOUR days after going to A&E with a suspected chest infection
- Millie Wyles, 21, was admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital after feeling unwell
- The student then rushed to St Thomas’s Hospital in the early hours of August 17
- Medics battled to save Millie who had organ failure, but she died four days later
Millie Wyles (pictured) was admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital with flu-like symptoms, but died four days later
An economics student with ‘her whole life ahead of her’ has died suddenly of suspected sepsis just days after experiencing flu-like symptoms.
Millie Wyles, was admitted to Medway Maritime Hospital after being sent home from work when she started feeling unwell.
The 21-year-old, who was studying at the University of Essex, was then rushed to St Thomas’s Hospital in the early hours of Saturday August 17.
Medics battled to save the student who had organ failure, but she died four days later.
Her heartbroken family have now paid tribute to the ‘kind’ economics student.
Her mother, Annie Wyles, from Sheerness, Kent, told Kent Online: ‘She went to work and came home during the week and then she decided she wanted to go to A&E.
‘They didn’t know if it was some sort of chest infection but needed to oxygenate her blood to boost the white blood cells.
Mother Annie with her girls Emmy (left), Millie (centre) and Maddy (right). She told the local newspaper that the generosity of people has been ‘overwhelming’
‘It was scary and devastating. Everything was going so quick and it was out of our control.
‘The generosity is overwhelming and has brought us an awful lot of comfort.’
Friends and family have taken to social media to pay tribute to the ‘beautiful young lady’ and launched a fundraising campaign on JustGiving.
The description on the page says: ‘With permission of Millies parents we’d like to start a just giving page to raise funds and awareness for intensive care unit, floor 6 east wing, in St Thomas’s hospital London, who fought tirelessly to try and save our Millie.
‘Millie was a generous & kind person, who would of welcomed this kind of support.
‘Let Millie’s memory live on through this legacy.’
Millie had graduated from with a first and was working at the Harps Inn, in Minster, Kent, before deciding if she wanted to work in the City.
A spokesman for the Inn said she ‘had her whole life ahead of her’ and would be ‘sorely missed by all our staff and customers.’
What are the key symptoms of sepsis? The ‘silent killer’ that can cause death in minutes
Sepsis, known as the ‘silent killer’, strikes when an infection such as blood poisoning sparks a violent immune response in which the body attacks its own organs.
It is a potentially life-threatening condition, triggered by an infection or injury.
Instead of attacking the invading bug, the body turns on itself, shutting down vital organs.
If caught early enough, it’s easily treated with intravenous antibiotics and fluids, but these must be given as soon as sepsis is suspected – it strikes with frightening speed and, for every hour of delay, a patient’s chance of dying increases 8 per cent.
Sepsis is a leading cause of avoidable death killing 44,000 people each year
The early symptoms of sepsis can be easily confused with more mild conditions, meaning it can be difficult to diagnose.
A high temperature (fever), chills and shivering, a fast heartbeat and rapid breathing are also indicators.
A patient can rapidly deteriorate if sepsis is missed early on, so quick diagnosis and treatment is vital – yet this rarely happens.
In the early stages, sepsis can be mistaken for a chest infection, flu or upset stomach.
The six signs of something potentially deadly can be identified by the acronym ‘SEPSIS’:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Passing no urine in a day
- Severe breathlessness
- Skin that’s mottled or discoloured
Anyone who develops any of these symptoms should seek medical help urgently — and ask doctors: ‘Could this be sepsis?’