Orla Taylor, a popular footballer and coach with youth team Turriff United, developed a temperature on Christmas Day and twice went to hospital, where she died days later
A teenage footballer who had a “bit of a cough” and developed a temperature on Christmas Day died days later when she caught sepsis.
Orla Taylor, 16, from Turriff in Aberdeenshire, started vomiting and attended the out-of-hours G-doc service at Inverurie Hospital twice between Christmas and New Year. On arrival at the hospital just after midnight, Orla, was still “her usual happy self” despite being incredibly unwell. Doctors revealed she would have to be put into a medical coma to best treat her condition – but by mid-afternoon of New Year’s Day, Orla had tragically passed away.
Speaking to the Press and Journal , dad Scott said: “We just miss her so much. We never dreamt for one moment we would lose her. Both times [we visited the out-of-hours hospital] we were told she had flu.
“By Hogmanay she was much worse so we called for emergency help. We are so incredibly grateful to the nurse practitioner and paramedics who immediately began treating Orla, believing it to be sepsis.
“We couldn’t fault the care she received. From that first nurse responder to the resus team, to the medics in intensive care who all did everything they could. We are so, so thankful.
“Her brother and sister, grandparents, aunts and uncles, made it to see her and to speak with her, which we are really grateful for. We all miss her terribly. The weight of grief on everyone is immeasurable.”
Orla was a talented footballer and a player-coach for local youth team Turriff United. They said in a tribute: “Orla was a vibrant young player who played such an important role in our girls section over the years.
“She had a smile on her face for everyone and a great role model for our younger players. We will remember Orla in our own way as a club.
“However this tragic news is still very raw within our girls teams and the club as a whole and we are taking the time to support them through this sad time.” A Celebration of Orla’s life will take place on Monday January 27, at 11.30am in Fyvie Parish Church.
