Annabelle Mackay, a second-year student at the University of Kent, was diagnosed with meningitis after celebrating her 21st birthday at Club Chemistry in Canterbury
A law student was left “unable to see, move or speak” after being rushed to hospital with meningitis.
Annabelle Mackay fell unwell after celebrating her 21st birthday at the nightclub at the heart of the deadly outbreak. When she was later found collapsed at her house share in Canterbury, Kent, the law student was rushed to an urgent care centre.
Speaking last night, Annabelle said: “I’d be dead if it wasn’t for my mum and housemates. I am so grateful for how quickly they acted and for not taking advice from the NHS 111 helpline. My body had started to shut down by the time they carried me out of our door half an hour later.”
Doctors at hospital confirmed the young woman had meningitis B, the strain which has caused the recent outbreak across Canterbury and suspected to be elsewhere. So far, two people have died, including a student at the University of Kent.
READ MORE: Baby girl critical in intensive care with meningitis as Kent outbreak claims two livesREAD MORE: Meningitis outbreak LIVE: MenB cases rise as baby girl left fighting for life
Annabelle is one of 15 people struck down by the bug, including the two who have passed away and a nine-month-old baby girl who is in intensive care. Annabelle, a second-year law student, told The Sun in her case she could not “see, move or speak” amid her ordeal.
The young woman had partied at Club Chemistry in Canterbury on March 4 until 3am on the 5th. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) is tracing everyone who visited Club Chemistry on March 5, 6 or 7 to give them antibiotics. A nightclub staff member has received treatment for meningitis, the business owner said.
Annabelle first starting feeling ill last Tuesday March 10, then deteriorated until she called 111 on the 11th with neck stiffness, light sensitivity, and a high fever. It is reported that, following a 16-minute assessment call just after 3pm, she was told to stay home.
But less than 30 minutes later, her mum Laura May, 57, spoke over the phone and begged her housemates to get help. Annabelle continued: “When the 111 woman told me to stay home, I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ But she told me to stay put and drink water. I called Mum and she knew straightaway something was very wrong with me.”
Annabelle’s sight started to return after two days. She is awaiting assessments. She added: “We were only in Chemistry for about half an hour then went to a club called Venue. I shared drinks there and was there all night so I might have caught it there.”
The UKHSA contacted her on March 13 to ask who she had been in contact with following her diagnosis. She said she is confused as to why the UKHSA has said no cases were reported on March 14.
Louise Jones-Roberts, the owner of Club Chemistry, had said: “I’m devastated for the families affected. It’s so incredibly sad. I just really hope people know the symptoms and no more lives are lost.”
