Man thought he had flu - but it turned out to be much worse and left him in coma

05 December 2023 , 09:37

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Devan Hopkins spent Christmas on life support (Image: Tracy Hopkins / SWNS)

A labourer who was told by doctors he had seasonal flu and given migraine tablets for his headaches was shocked to find out he actually had a dangerous blood infection and was going to be put into an induced coma over Christmas.

Devan Hopkins, 24, started feeling unwell in October 2022 and he was told by a doctor that he was experiencing winter flu symptoms. A few weeks later, after two further blood tests, he was prescribed migraine tablets - after complaining of severe headaches and exhaustion.

But over the next week Devan started to lose 4 kilos in weight and his headaches got worse. When he returned to the doctor, Devan underwent more blood tests and was told he had a heart murmur. He was sent straight to Lancaster Royal Infirmary and had an echocardiogram and was told he was suffering from infective endocarditis - an infection caused by bacteria that enter the bloodstream.

Devan's blood infection wasn't diagnosed at first (Tracy Hopkins / SWNS)

Further tests showed Devan had a bicuspid heart valve - where the aortic valve only has two flaps instead of the usual three. He was transferred for surgery to replace his aortic valve, repair his mitral valve and remove an abscess on the aorta. The operation was due to last six hours but 13 hours later the surgeon told Devan's parents, Tracy and Glen Hopkins, both 54, that the procedure had been "complex".

Devan with mum Tracy and dad Glen, who stayed by his side as his health plummeted (Tracy Hopkins / SWNS)

He was in critical condition as they discovered that had strep, pneumonia and sepsis which wreaked havoc on his body and he was placed in an induced coma over Christmas. He came off life support after 10 days and was given the all-clear - leaving hospital surrounded by his family.

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Devan, from Morecambe, Lancashire, said: "I was feeling really under the weather and the usual over-the-counter medicines weren’t having any effect… We had no idea the nightmare that was ahead. Looking back at photos now it’s quite shocking to see how thin I had become in such a short space of time.”

Devan and his sister Poppy, who organised messages of support from his friends whilst he was in hospital (Tracy Hopkins / SWNS)

He spent 10 days on life-support with his family not knowing if he would wake up. He said: "The next few days and weeks went by in a blur they say, waiting and watching, holding my hand, constantly talking to me and telling me to keep fighting.”

Devan was brought off life-support on December 27, 2022, and spent a further 14 days in the hospital. He was finally allowed home and reunited with the rest of his friends and family in January 2023 and hailed as a "Christmas miracle" by hospital staff.

He has now praised the NHS for their kindness and said: “They went above and beyond to save me, even giving up some of their own precious time with family at Christmas to come and look after me. (It’s) an example of our NHS at it’s very best.” This festive season, the is urging people to donate to its charity to help fund its lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.

Ben Barry