A STUDENT who tragically died after a meningitis outbreak has been pictured for the first time – as his family release a touching tribute.
Lewis Walters had been studying at The Henley College near Reading, Berkshire, when he fell ill with the killer bug.
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Lewis had been studying at Henley College when he fell ill with the killer bug Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
Lewis’ heartbroken dad paid a touching tribute to his ‘kind hearted son’ Credit: Facebook
Two other students are currently being treated as officials race to contain the spread of the deadly disease.
Lewis’ heartbroken dad, Sean Walters, hailed his “kind hearted son”, who sadly died in the intensive care unit at a local hospital.
He spoke of the family’s “devastation” after losing the youngster, while sharing pictures of Lewis surrounded by his loved ones.
It read: “Words simply can’t describe the heartbreak and upset we’re going through.
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Lewis’ family have been left ‘absolutely devastated’ by his death Credit: Facebook
The UK Health Security Agency confirmed it was treating two other people who had fallen ill with the deadly infection Credit: PA
“The early hours of yesterday we lost our Lewis. Within a few hours of feeling a bit ill he developed sepsis and was taken from us.
“He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn’t save him.
“If you didn’t know Lewis, he was a funny, sociable kind hearted soul. He liked to include everyone and took great joy in winding me and Kate up.
“We are absolutely devastated.”
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) confirmed it was treating two other people who had fallen ill with the deadly infection.
They attend different schools, Reading Blue Coat School and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre, the UKHSA added.
The agency said they are also contacting people who may be at risk of infection as medics race to stop the spread.
These close contacts were being offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure to help contain the strain.
Lewis was a student at The Henley College
Dr Rachel Mearkle, consultant in health protection, said: “We understand that many people will be affected by this sad news and would like to offer our condolences to the friends and family of this student.
“Students and staff will naturally be feeling worried about the likelihood of further cases, however meningococcal meningitis requires very close contact to spread and large outbreaks, as we saw in Kent recently, are thankfully rare.
“We are working closely with partners and have provided public health advice and precautionary antibiotic treatment to close contacts of the cases.
“Meningococcal disease does not spread easily and the risk to the wider public remains low.”
The UKHSA said that information has been shared with the parents and students at all affected schools about the signs of meningitis.
The agency also confirmed that tests show the infection is not the same strain as meningitis B linked to a fatal outbreak in Kent.
NHS officials were slammed for waiting two days before raising the alarm about the deadly meningitis outbreak in March.
Experts blasted the decision to delay alerting the public to the bug – which tragically killed two students – as “indefensible”.
