Warning after teenager spends ten days in coma and nearly dies from flu
A former nurse has shared shocking images of her son in a ten day coma - when he nearly died after getting the flu.
Jack Hollingsworth, 19, was rushed to hospital after becoming severely unwell at home after he contracted the flu which developed into pneumonia.
Mum Claire is now urging people to get their flu jabs, after Jack's illness demonstrated how a person could be overwhelmed by influenza "once they reach a point that their immune system burns out".
Claire, from Llangristiolus in Anglesey, Wales said she had initially thought her son had Covid but the test came back negative. She knew something was seriously wrong when Jack’s temperature spiked and his heart rate became very fast.
The terrified mum thought she could lose Jack and rushed him to Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Emergency Department on December 15.
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Jack was taken to intensive care where doctors put him in a coma.
Claire, a former nurse, said: “Jack had been unwell for a few days, we all thought it was a bad cold or even Covid.
Receptionist Lynda Roddick-Evans and nurses Emily Carr and Lisa Owen, holding gifts from Jack's family to thank them for their swift response (BCUHB / SWNS)“The Covid test came back negative and towards the end of the week he became more unwell, he had a very high temperature and a very fast heart rate.
“I couldn’t wait any longer, I’m an ex nurse so I knew my son wasn’t very well and I felt there was a risk that we could lose him. I drove Jack in my car to the department and ran inside to get some help.
“The receptionist could see how frantic I was and immediately alerted the clinical staff who rushed him straight into Resus.
“It was apparent that Jack was extremely sick as the team decided he needed ventilating straight away."
Claire said seeing her son in such a state was the "worst moment" of her life.
Test results revealed Jack had contracted flu, which had developed into pneumonia. He spent ten days in a coma with his mum, dad John, and girlfriend Erin by his side, but medics said there were times they feared he would die.
Dr Terry Collingwood, critical care consultant, said: “When Jack arrived with us in the Intensive Care Unit his condition was life-threatening.
Jack Hollingsworth (centre) with members of the Intensive Care Team at Ysbyty Gwynedd (BCUHB / SWNS)“He needed complex medical support to survive the initial 48 hours.
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“During that time we received advice and guidance from the Specialist Respiratory Failure service at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester on how best to manage Jack’s condition, for which we were extremely grateful.”
On Christmas Eve, Jack began to show signs of improvement and he was brought out of the coma. He was able to go home on Boxing Day but has been back at the hospital recently to thank staff who saved his life.
Claire said: “Jack is super fit, having just completed an advanced diploma in outdoor activities but he demonstrated how a young person can become suddenly overwhelmed by influenza once they reach a point that their immune system burns out.
“At this point, he deteriorated from a boy with a flu like illness to severely unwell in the space of a couple of hours.
“It was a reminder of how dangerous flu can be, even for those who are young and fit and we would continue to encourage anyone who is eligible to get their flu jab after seeing what it nearly did to our son.
Jack said he would be "forever grateful" to the hospital staff for saving his life.
Dr Collingwood said: “Helping a patient like Jack can be very challenging and requires input from many people working in multiple different specialities, including nursing, physiotherapy, radiology and laboratory services as well as the various support services such as housekeeping, administration and portering staff.
“It is a huge testament to the entire team here at Ysbyty Gwynedd that someone as sick as Jack was when he arrived has been able to make such a remarkable recovery.
“We were all delighted to see Jack again and we are so pleased to see him doing so well.”
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