A devastated father has paid tribute to his ‘kind hearted son’ following his death, after the sixth-form pupil contracted meningitis.
Sean Walters told of his heartbreak after ‘loving’ Lewis Walters died in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Reading, Berkshire.
He shared photos of Lewis surrounded by his family in an emotional social media post where he remembered his ‘funny and social’ son.
Mr Walters wrote: ‘Words simply can’t describe the heartbreak and upset we’re going through.
‘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.
‘We are absolutely devastated.
‘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.’
Sean Walters has paid tribute to his son Lewis (pictured) after he contracted meningitis and passed away
Lewis (pictured) was remembered in an emotional social media post by his father as ‘funny and social’
Lewis pictured with dad Sean, who told of his heartbreak after his ‘loving’ son died in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Berkshire
Mr Walters added: ‘He also loved his sisters, friends and family dearly.
‘Life won’t be the same for many of us now that he’s gone.’
The youngster’s death has left his friends shocked – with his passing sending shockwaves through the village of Henley-on-Thames, Berks.
Parents at Henley College received an email explaining the tragedy.
One mother said: ‘It’s come as a total shock to my son and the students. They are so closely knit so it has affected them greatly.
‘They are in all in shock to be honest with you. How do you come to terms with this at such an age. It’s awful.’
Two more college pupils are being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for meningitis following the outbreak.
Lewis’s death comes as two other college pupils are being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for meningitis following the recent outbreak
Lewis’s death has sent shockwaves through the village of Henley-on-Thames, with parents at Henley College receiving an email explaining the tragedy
They attend the Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre in Emmer Green, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said today.
Specialists from the agency confirmed close contacts of all cases are being offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure.
One case has been confirmed by experts as Meningitis B, but it is not the same strain as earlier outbreaks this year.
In March, an outbreak of Meningitis B in Canterbury, Kent, resulted in two deaths and roughly 20 confirmed cases.
The UKHSA said that pupils and parents at all affected schools are being offered information about the signs and symptoms.
It added that the risk to the wider public remains low.
The principal of Henley College Simon Spearman said: ‘The Henley College can confirm that one of its students sadly passed away earlier this week.
‘Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.
Specialists have confirmed close contacts of all meningitis cases are now being offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure
‘We are supporting those affected within our college community and are following the advice and guidance given by the UK Health Security Agency.’
Olivier Picard, chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: ‘This is a tragic case and our thoughts are with the friends and family of those affected.
‘Pharmacies in the area, including my own, have already seen a very significant increase in demand for vaccination against MenB from worried parents.
‘Although pharmacies are now carrying more stock than when we saw the outbreak in Kent, this is having to be managed carefully and demand could well exceed what pharmacies currently have in supply.
‘The JCVI should urgently publish its recommendations for MenB vaccinations and whether this should be extended to teenagers and young adults, in light of these recent outbreaks.’
‘Concerned families should follow closely advice from the UK Health Security Agency who state the risk to the wider public remains low.
‘Pharmacies stand ready to support public health efforts locally.’
Dr Shamez Ladhani, consultant epidemiologist at the UKHSA, told BBC News it was ‘really unfortunate’ to have three separate outbreaks within such a short period of time.
He said: ‘Just like Kent was, just like Dorset… it is difficult to know where it is going to go from here,’ he said.
‘Hopefully it will settle down. At the moment, every indication is that there is no increased risk to any of the students in Reading, but the situation is evolving and if that changes we will take action if needed.’
