Sussex woman urges for awareness of symptoms after meningitis mistaken for heatstroke
Tilly Buckton fell ill at a festival three years ago
A Sussex woman's urging people to be more aware of meningitis symptoms - after hers were "overlooked" when she fell ill at a music festival.
22-year-old Tilly Buckton was told she "probably had heatstroke" and it was "nothing" when she became unwell at Boardmasters in 2022.
"I just knew that it was something. I have just never felt that way.
"I felt like my body was shutting down.
"We called 111 and they said that they that I should come to hospital."
It's as charity Meningitis Now warns of a spike in cases of bacterial meningitis - which young people aren't given a jab for.
It accounted for over 80% of cases, with 20% occurring in the 15-24 year old age group.
Tilly said the symptoms for her included "not being able to look at direct sunlight", full body "shivering and convulsing", and having a "stiff neck":
She explained: "If you're not able to move it side to side or up and down and then the change in temperature.
"So feeling a bit cold, feeling a bit hot, having those differences in temperature.
"But yeah, if you notice any of those signs, definitely check on the Meningitis Now website for the list of symptoms.
"Then call an ambulance because time is really of the essence. "I got told that I was lucky that I arrived when I did."
Meningitis Now Chief Executive Dr Tom Nutt said: “It is vital that young people know what to do in a meningitis emergency – but vaccination is the only way to prevent meningitis.
"MenB is one of the most common causes of bacterial meningitis in young people in the UK, and latest figures show cases are on the rise.
"Despite this, young people are not currently offered the lifesaving MenB vaccine – leaving thousands unprotected."
The charity is now campaigning for the MenB vaccine to be made more widely available on the NHS.