'Fit and healthy' decorator's earache turned out to be infection that killed him

07 February 2023 , 00:23

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Gareth Rowlands contracted meningitis, which led to his death (Image: Linzi Whitmore)

A "fit and healthy" man who was suffering from earache has died after contracting meningitis.

Gareth Rowlands, a painter and decorator from Rhiwlas in Gwynedd, Wales, became ill with earache which transpired to be the beginnings of a severe case of meningitis.

Doctors desperately tried to treat him by placing him in an induced coma, but subsequently discovered that he had suffered such severe brain damage as a result of the infection that his brain was rendered "incompatible with life".

Linzi Whitmore, Gareth's stepdaughter, confirmed the 50-year-old had died on Saturday, February 4 after being brought out of his coma, North Wales Live reports.

Gareth died in hospital after suffering severe brain damage from the meningitis infection (Daily Post Wales)

Linzi has now set up a fundraiser for people to donate towards Gareth's funeral.

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Writing on GoFundMe, Linzi said:

"Gareth was a fit and healthy young man until meningitis left him so brain damaged, he wasn't compatible with life."

She said he turned 50 on January 19 while laying in a coma in hospital - just three days after falling ill.

"Gareth complained of an earache on the Saturday, (January 16) headache on the Sunday and very early on the Monday morning, my mum found him literally fighting for his life, his brain being starved of oxygen," she explained.

"Gareth was put in an induced coma and kept sedated, he was cared for brilliantly by the staff at the intensive care, Cybi ward. Unfortunately an MRI scan confirmed that the majority of Gareth's brain had been tragically damaged with very little chance of survival.

"Gareth was brought out of the coma, taken off the sedation and ventilation and tragically passed away at Ysbyty Gwynedd on February 4 2023."

Linzi said she was asking people to donate to Gareth's funeral "so we can give him the best send off possible".

Gareth leaves behind Angie, his partner of 29 years, and his three stepchildren: Linzi, Jamie, and Sam.

You can visit the fundraiser here.

Symptoms of meningitis can include a high temperature, cold hands and feet, vomiting, confusion, breathing quickly, muscle and joint pain, pale, mottled or blotchy skin, spots or a rash, headache, a stiff neck, a dislike of bright light, being very sleepy or difficult to wake, and fits (seizures).

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Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.

You can also call NHS 111 for advice if you're not sure if it's anything serious.

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