Health chiefs are investigating 27 cases of meningitis linked to an outbreak in Kent, up from 20 previously, following an “explosive” outbreak that has left two dead.
The fatal outbreak of meningitis B has spread to a second Kent university. Leaders at Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) said there was one case of meningococcal disease involving a student there, linked to the initial cluster associated with Club Chemistry.
It has also been confirmed that a student in London who has been diagnosed with the illness is “directly linked” to the same outbreak. Escape Studios, an animation school in North Greenwich, confirmed the individual had been hospitalised.
Top doctors said it is unusual to see such a rapid spread of cases of meningitis, blaming a “super-spreader” event for the surge in numbers.
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Some of the cases have been confirmed as meningitis B. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which is investigating the outbreak, said it would confirm the strain seen in other cases “when we have the full results”.
Hundreds of people who visited Club Chemistry in Canterbury on 5, 6 or 7 March have been told to come forward for preventative antibiotic treatment as a “precautionary measure”, while a targeted vaccination drive for students at the University of Kent is being urgently rolled out.
An urgent public health alert has been issued, with officials urging NHS staff to be vigilant for signs and symptoms. People have also been warned that university students are particularly susceptible to the deadly infection.
Here are the symptoms of meningitis and what to do if you suspect you have the infection, according to the NHS.
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What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an infection of the meninges, the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord.
Meningitis affects around 2.3 million people globally every year. It’s estimated that up to one in every 10 cases of bacterial meningitis is fatal, according to the NHS.
The UKHSA and the NHS are arranging antibiotics for some students at the University of Kent (Alamy/PA)
Although anyone can get meningitis, it is more common in babies, children, teenagers and young adults.
What are the symptoms of meningitis?
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Early warning signs of meningitis include a high temperature, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.
As the condition develops, it can make people drowsy, irritable and confused, as well as cause severe muscle pain, pale, blotchy skin, spots or a rash, stiff neck, an aversion to bright lights and convulsions or seizures.
Meningitis Now urges people not to wait until someone develops a rash and to seek medical help if someone is ill and displaying these symptoms.
What causes meningitis?
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There are many different causes of meningitis, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. However, in the UK, viruses and bacteria are the most common causes.
Other causes of meningitis include some medicines or brain tumours. It can also occur following a skull fracture or head and neck surgery, according to Meningitis Now.
Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.
A headache and high temperature can be symptoms of meningitis (Getty/iStock)
What are the different strains?
There are five main strains that cause the disease in the UK.
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MenB is the most common and also the deadliest. Health officials have said that at least some cases of meningitis seen in Kent have been confirmed as meningitis B.
Other strains include MenA, MenC, MenW and MenY, which are also caused by bacteria.
What is meningitis B?
Meningitis B is a serious bacterial infection, which is caused by Neisseria meningitidis group B bacteria.
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It can lead to severe illness, including meningitis, which is an infection in the brain and spinal cord, blood poisoning, and sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
MenB, the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in the UK, is responsible for around nine in 10 of meningococcal infections in the country, according to Public Health Wales.
It is one of the most aggressive and dangerous strains of meningitis, causing the majority of meningococcal cases and deaths in the UK.
How does meningitis spread?
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Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through coughing, sneezing or kissing.
Any young person who has missed this vaccine at school remains eligible to receive it up to the age of 25 (Getty/iStock)
It is usually caught from those who carry the viruses or bacteria in their nose or throat, or from someone with meningitis, although this is less common.
How serious is meningitis?
If it is not treated quickly, it can lead to sepsis, brain or nerve damage, hearing loss or even death.
Some with bacterial meningitis can be left with hearing or vision loss, problems with memory, fits or loss of limbs, even after being treated.
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Can meningitis be treated?
Those with viral meningitis will usually get better on their own.
Most people with bacterial meningitis who are treated quickly will also make a full recovery. However, it usually needs to be treated in hospital for at least a week.
Treatments include antibiotics and fluids given directly into a vein or oxygen through a face mask.
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Are there vaccines for meningitis?
There are vaccines available to prevent some types of meningitis, which are available as part of the UK routine immunisation schedule.
Vaccines include the menB, six-in-one, pneumococcal and MMRV vaccines for babies and children, while the MenACWY jabs are offered to teenagers, sixth-form students and new university students.
The menB vaccine is now offered to babies at two, three and 12 months.
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At least a week of hospital treatment is usually needed to treat bacterial meningitis (Getty/iStock)
Men W disease has historically been rare in the UK, but from 2009, cases of MenW began to increase year on year. From autumn 2015, a MenACWY vaccine replaced the MenC vaccine for children in school and is offered at around 14 years of age.
Any young person who has missed this vaccine at school remains eligible to receive it up to the age of 25. This is especially important for new university entrants, for whom the risk of contracting meningococcal disease increases.
A former health minister said the government should consider a “catch-up” vaccination campaign for young people.
Speaking of the latest outbreak on Tuesday, Helen Whately, Conservative MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, told Times Radio: “One of the things that the government (and) UKHSA will need to look at is if there is now a greater risk around this outbreak – and in future should there be some kind of vaccination catch-up for that group.”
What should you do if you think you have meningitis?
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The NHS recommends that people call 999 for an ambulance or go to their nearest A&E. People are advised to trust their instincts, as someone with meningitis or sepsis can get a lot worse very quickly.
The blaze at Tenants March, just outside West Calder, took hold at around 8pm on March 18.
Residents of a sleepy West Lothian street were forced into action after a gang of youths reportedly started a fire in a field opposite their homes.
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The blaze at Tenants March, just outside West Calder, took hold at around 8pm on March 18.
A local claims around eight teens dressed all in black are said to have set alight grass next to a wooden fence bordering a lane running from the road into the village, before fleeing and worrying sheep in another field.
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service were called by a passing motorist. One local explained how he and his neighbour had to act quickly to control the flames before crews arrived.
He told Edinburgh Live: “I was more worried about it spreading down the lane . It was grass that they had lit and it was travelling quickly along the fence line and causing further fire in the opposite hedge. It could easily have spread.
“The kids were also in fields at back of my house same ones chasing and shouting at the sheep which are all in lamb just now.”
Pictures from the scene show the flames roaring around wooden fence posts, and the charred state of the grass on Thursday morning.
Police Scotland have confirmed nobody was injured, but enquiries are underway.
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The resident also shared his concerns about other incidents involving youths in the village, including riding motorbikes and e-bikes in farmers’ fields.
He added: “I get it young people do make mistakes but they also need to be held responsible for their actions. And parents need to try their best to be aware of what their children are doing and not ignore concerning behaviour like this.”
A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “We were alerted at 8.10pm on Wednesday, March 18, to reports of a fire in the open at Tenants March, West Calder, West Lothian.
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“Operations Control mobilised one appliance to the scene and firefighters extinguished a hedge fire. Crews left the scene at 8.24pm once ensuring the area was made safe.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We were made aware of a fire on Tenants March, West Calder, around 8pm on Wednesday, March 18.
“There were no reports of any injuries and enquiries are at an early stage.”
Utility Meters Warehouse Ltd, based in Manchester, launched back in March 2013 and is “the UK’s Premier One-Stop Solution Company for Gas Pressure Control & Measurement Equipment”.
The company deals with gas pressure regulators, gas meter modules, and gas volume converters.
The Utility Meters Warehouse Ltd website adds: “Our mission as the UK’s Premier One-Stop Solution Company for Gas Pressure Control & Measurement Equipment is to make a significant contribution to the reduction in consumption of natural gas by technically advancing gas control methodologies and the adoption of the same across the Utilities Industry.”
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British gas company enters administration
After 13 years, Utility Meters Warehouse Ltd is now at risk of closing.
Michael Lennon and Mark Blackman from KR8 Advisory Limited were appointed joint administrators on March 12 and will now manage the company’s affairs.
What happens when a company goes into administration?
Put simply, when a company enters administration, it means that it is unable to pay expenses, debts, or other liabilities, according to SquareUp.com.
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Companies House adds: “When a company goes into administration, they have entered a legal process (under the Insolvency Act 1986) with the aim of achieving one of the statutory objectives of an administration. This may be to rescue a viable business that is insolvent due to cashflow problems.
“An appointment of an administrator (a licensed insolvency practitioner) will be made by directors, a creditor or the court to fulfil the administration process.”
A statutory moratorium is put in place once a company enters administration, giving it “breathing space” to allow for financial restructuring plans to be drawn up free from creditor enforcement actions.
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A company can continue to trade while in administration, but daily management and control is handed over to the administrators.
Companies House continues: “Within 8 weeks it is the administrators’ role to formulate administration proposals.
“Creditors are then asked to vote by a decision procedure to approve the administrators’ proposals.
“If the administration involves a sale of all or part of the company’s business, the proceeds (after the costs of the procedure) will be distributed to creditors in a statutory order of priority.”
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Administration will end automatically after 12 months unless the administrator asks the court or creditors for an extension.
Through administration, a company can be:
Rescued and passed back to the directors
Enter liquidation
Be dissolved
Turbulent start to 2026 for UK high street
It has been a rough start to 2026 for the UK high street, with several retailers entering administration and others announcing widespread store closures.
Major high street retailers, including River Island, Primark, and Poundland, have already been forced to close stores in 2026, while Revolution and BrewDog have shut the doors to 21 and 38 pubs, respectively.
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Several other retailers have fallen into administration recently, including:
Meanwhile, four UK travel companies have closed in the opening weeks of 2026:
EcoJet Airlines, billed as “the world’s first Electric Airline”, has also entered liquidation after just three years, resulting in the cancellation of all planned flights.
Tesco also recently revealed plans to cut 380 jobs in stores across the UK, while it’s been reported that Morrisons is looking to sell some of its in-store pharmacies as it continues to cut costs.
It’s not been all bad news for the UK high street, with several major brands announcing new store openings for 2026, including Aldi, M&S, and Superdrug.
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Hungry gulls do not only steal our chips and sandwiches. They learn our habits, and look for reliable sources of food. That includes waste treatment centres, landfill or anywhere food waste is concentrated. Many gull populations have moved inland from the coast to exploit these sources of food.
Wherever our waste is processed, gulls and other birds can forage. At landfills, gulls feed on waste before it is covered up. If there are plastic or glass pieces covered in food that are small enough, gulls will swallow them whole. Only the food itself gets digested, and when the gull flies back to its roost site, the waste gets regurgitated, polluting that site. This movement of pollutants is known as “biovectoring”.
For the first time, scientists like me are now quantifying just how much plastic and other waste is being leaked into important nature areas through the daily movements of birds.
Many lesser black-backed gulls breeding in the UK and other parts of northern Europe migrate to Andalusia in southern Spain, where they form a wintering population of over 100,000 feeding mainly in rice fields and landfills. Fortunately, many of these birds are fitted with GPS tags while breeding. This enables detailed tracking of their movements.
Fuente de Piedra lake in Málaga is a hotspot for migrating lesser black-backed gulls. This wetland has such special natural significance, it’s designated as an internationally important site under a global convention known as Ramsar. It’s most famous for the largest breeding colony of flamingos in Spain. Gulls fly up to 50 miles to landfills to feed, then fly back to roost.
By combining GPS data with waterbird counts, and analyses of regurgitated pellets, scientists have estimated that an average of 400kg of plastics, plus more than two tonnes of other debris such as glass, textiles or ceramics, are deposited by this gull species into the lake each year. This lake has no outflow, making it salty and hence flamingo friendly. Those imported plastics remain in the lake, breaking down into microplastics. They can be ingested by flamingo chicks, aquatic insects and other animals.
Two yellow-legged gulls chase a white stork that is carrying plastic in its bill, which it picked up at a landfill. Enrique García Muñoz (FotoConCiencia), CC BY-NC-ND
In coastal Andalusia, these gulls join the resident yellow-legged gulls (equivalent to our herring gulls) and a mixture of migratory and resident white storks as the three major waterbird visitors to landfills.
In the Cádiz Bay wetlands (another Ramsar site), surrounding the historical city that is now a favourite stop for cruise ships, the three species combine to spread different types and sizes of plastics into different microhabitats. Annually, 530kg of plastics are deposited into wetlands via regurgitated pellets. Although a stork is bigger, so transports more waste per bird, most of the plastic is again moved by the lesser black-backed gulls that winter there in larger numbers.
Plastic film regurgitated by a gull roosting in a field in Atherton, Greater Manchester. Kane Brides, CC BY-NC-ND
This waste ingestion has strong effects on the birds themselves, through direct mortality from diseases, choking or becoming entangled with plastics, and toxic effects of the additives within them. Then after regurgitation in pellets, those plastics are a threat to all fauna and readily enter our food supply through aquaculture and table salt production, both important in Cádiz Bay.
These studies in Spain address a problem that is ongoing all over Europe. There are no comparable quantitative studies yet in the UK, but similar problems occur wherever gulls concentrate to feed on our waste. If white storks become abundant in the UK future, they will probably visit our landfills, together with gulls and perhaps cattle egrets.
The sealing of many landfills, and improvements in waste management may have contributed to recent declines in many gull populations in the UK and elsewhere. But these problems of plastic leakage will continue so long as our consumer society generates so much waste. Reducing waste, and reusing things is better than recycling, partly because food containers may get eaten by birds before they can be recycled. Cleaning our food containers before we bin them, and composting our own food waste, can also help to reduce this phenomenon.
It’s understood the young man, who was aged in his 30s, was working on a roof at the farm
Tributes have been paid to a young man who died in a tragic farm accident.
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Emergency services were called to reports of a sudden death on a farm in Co Tyrone on Thursday. The incident occurred in the Drumenny Road area of Cookstown.
The victim, who has been named locally as Richard Wallace, was from the Moneymore area of Co Derry. It’s understood Mr Wallace, who was aged in his 30s, was working on a roof at the farm.
The death is not being treated as suspicious and the Northern Ireland Health and Safety Executive is investigating.
A death notice described Mr Wallace as the ‘precious and much adored youngest son of Stephen and Julie, dearly loved brother of Graeme, much loved grandson of Danny and Elizabeth (Robinson) and the late Sammy and Josie (Wallace) and a cherished nephew and cousin’.
Many tributes have also been paid on social media with many remembering him as a true character and gentleman” and “one of the best.”
One heartbroken friend said: “Was an absolute pleasure to call this man my friend for the best part of 20years. From cycling the roads in the summer as cubs to countless nights out, you were always the soul of the party and I have memories il cherish forever. You will be missed greatly. Until we meet again Our boy.”
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Another said: “Ballyeglish will never be the same without u buddy! The hardest working and honest lad taken from us to soon. Sleep easy.”
“Great memories in school and the band growing up, always with a smile on his face! Thinking of the family at this heartbreaking time,” said a third.
Another added: “Such awful news! Such fond memories of school days. Richard was always the class clown, who made everyone laugh! RIP Richard!”
Meanwhile Bruce’s True Blues Accordion Band in Bellaghy said: “Our thoughts are with Stephen, Julie and Graeme following the tragic death earlier today of Richard.
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“A dedicated bandsman, Richard in his youth was a member of Ballymoughan Purple Guards Magherafelt, following his Dad & brother, although as a drummer not a fluter like them. In more recent years he drummed with Dunamoney Flute Band and we also think of his band families in both bands.
“We also have in our thoughts the wider Robinson & Wallace family circle, especially his grandparents Danny & Elizabeth Robinson & Aunts & Uncles Amanda (David), Glenn (Kathryn), Susan (Melvyn) and their families.”
Desertmartin Accordion Band added: “As a band we wish to pass on our condolences to Stephen, Julie, and Graeme on the tragic passing of Richard. Trying to process how and why a young lad was tragically killed is very difficult for any of us, never mind the family.
“We pray for God’s grace for the family and fellow band members to get through this. None of us know the hour.”
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A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police and other emergency services attended a sudden death in the Drumenny Road area of Cookstown on Thursday morning, March 19.
“The death is not being treated as suspicious and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.”
The team behind Saturday Night Live UK has announced that the inaugural season will now be running for an additional two more episodes.
Originally, the UK edition of SNL was supposed to run for just six episodes, but Sky confirmed on Friday morning that this has been bumped up to eight.
The remaining five guest hosts and musical performers will be unveiled in due course.
Lorne Michaels, who created SNL in 1975, will be acting as the UK show’s executive producer, working alongside a team of 20 writers and a regular cast of 11 comedians, which includes Taskmaster alum Emma Sidi and Ania Magliano, Black Ops star Hammed Animashaun and TikTok fave Jack Shep.
For the most part, SNL UK will be following the same format as the long-running American version, in which a different host performs sketches alongside the regular cast in front of a live studio audience each week.
Written the week of the filming, the 75-minute episodes will be made up of an opening monologue from the guest presenter, sketches featuring the house cast, live performances from the week’s musical act and a more British-centric take on SNL’s satirical news segment, Weekend Update.
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As was reported by Deadline, producer James Longman said earlier this week that SNL UK had “borrowed the US house” but was planning on “building our own rooms” while discussing how the two series would compare.
Saturday Night Live UK will launch this Saturday (March 21) on Sky and Now TV. Watch a teaser below:
The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026 have been released – and a Cambridgeshire city has made it onto the list
A Cambridgeshire city has been named among the best places to live in Britain by The Sunday Times. Cambridge has been identified among the best places to live in the East of England in the list, released on Friday, (March 20).
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Expert judges from The Sunday Times visited all the locations and assessed factors including schools, transport, broadband speeds, culture, access to green spaces, and the health of the high street to determine the best places to live.
Cambridge was named among the best locations in the East of England, alongside Norwich, Manningtree, Essex, Bedford, Chelmsford, Essex, Saffron Walden, Essex, and Woodbridge in Suffolk. The overall East of England winner was Manningtree in Essex. Norwich in Norfolk was named the best place to live in the UK.
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, says: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain. It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live. These judges have travelled the length and breadth of the UK, from the Scottish Highlands to the Cornish coast, selecting the top towns and villages, suburbs and cities for the 2026 guide.”
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There are more new entries than ever before in this year’s guide. Judges looked for thriving locations with a strong sense of community rather than famous names with high house prices.
Helen added: “One thing all our chosen locations have in common is that the people who live in them are proud to call them home.”
The list entry about Cambridge said: “Cambridge is an A*-list location, known for three bs: beautiful buildings, brains and bicycles – and now a fourth, biotech. The city of gowns and historic colleges has transformed into a fenland science and tech powerhouse. The economy has boomed – along with the population and traffic – and house prices have become turbocharged.
“Yet the magnetic pull of the place that has nurtured more Nobel prizewinners than any other is hard to resist. Cambridge has top-class schools and is also the UK’s cycling capital, with about a third of trips in the town made by bike. The city has strong cultural foundations, a lively coffee scene and an excellent selection of interesting places to eat and drink.”
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The guide was sponsored by mortgage lender Lloyds Banking Group for the first time this year. The lender provided an average house price for each location.
“For many, navigating the housing market can feel overwhelming,” Kate Townson, Lloyds relationship and customer development director said. “At Lloyds, our aim is to support all home buyers, including those taking their very first step onto the property ladder, with clear guidance, practical tools and tailored products that help them move forward with confidence and clarity.
“Our partnership with The Sunday Times Best Places to Live aims to give trusted insight into communities across the UK, helping homebuyers to make confident, informed decisions about their future home. ”
Good news has been hard to come by. But the sight of Levi Colwill back in training will have been a much-welcome lift.
Colwill has not played a minute of the season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee the week before the campaign started in August, undergoing surgery in what was the biggest setback of his career to date. Suffice to say, his presence has been sorely missed.
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Chelsea resisted interest from Manchester City and Liverpool after Colwill’s excellent loan spell at Brighton and emerged as one of the club’s truly untouchable figures last season. The 23-year-old started 35 of Chelsea’s 38 Premier League matches, finishing the 90 in each of them and scored the goal that secured their return to the Champions League on the final day of the season against Nottingham Forest.
While Trevoh Chalobah has had a fine season, they have missed a natural left-footer at the back. Wesley Fofana’s form has wavered while Tosin Adarabioyo cannot be considered a long-term solution.
Colwill was back in what Liam Rosenior described as ‘partial training’ ahead of the first leg against PSG last week.
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Colwill was back in training at Cobham last week (Picture: Getty)
Chelsea have not provided a clear timeline for when their defender will play again but there is an growing expectation he could play before the end of the season.
‘I’m hopeful,’ Rosenior said last month. ‘I’m hopeful because he’s an outstanding player. Again, no time frames.
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‘You have to take these long-term injuries day by day. And also, it’s not about when he comes back, it’s about him staying fit when he is back.’
Behind the scenes, the hard work has been underway for months. Explaining the process the club’s medical staff and Colwill have undertaken, Stephen Smith, CEO and founder of Kitman Labs which specialises in injury welfare, explained the most important goal will be getting the player’s training levels back to where they were pre-injury before he is exposed to first-team football.
Colwill has watched on from the sidelines this season (Picture: Getty)
‘There will be an enormous, very gradual build up to his return to play,’ Smith said. ‘The plan in place for a return from an injury like this is extremely detailed. With an ACL, what you don’t want is an anterior translation where the top part of the leg slides forward on the bottom half of the leg because that is what essentially severs the ACL.
‘So you need your hamstring muscles to be incredibly strong. They will have done lots of work on jumping and landing because when you get into that landing position, that is where that translation or sliding occurs.
‘They will be doing lots of strengthening work on how you land from a jump, they will also be doing a lot of changes in direction and how you decelerate.
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‘Obviously they will want him up to speed but how you slow down will be monitored. All his movement patterns will graduate from very low velocity to very fast speeds, moving from very controlled situations to very uncontrolled, chaotic situations.
Colwill was a key figure at the back last season (Picture: Getty Images)
‘This is a process that will have been building for months. They will be looking closely at his numbers from a normal game week, looking hit those pre-injury baseline levels and replicating the type of demands placed upon a player in training and games, hopefully without any adverse reaction.’
Chelsea still have trophy hopes this season in the form of the FA Cup while they are in the thick of a battle for a top five finish with Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
Rosenior will be hopeful his defender can have a role to play in the run-in but for Colwill, he will also have one eye firmly on the World Cup.
There is intense competition at centre-half and the Chelsea star will not have the opportunity to impress Thomas Tuchel in the upcoming international break.
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But Smith believes there is ample opportunity for Colwill to end his injury hell with a trip State-side.
‘There is plenty of time and importantly, he won’t be going into the summer with the same level of fatigue compared to other players who gave played all season. So there are some pros and cons to where he is at right now.’
Hudson Reid, 2, spent four weeks in hospital after a sickness bug developed into a “one in a billion” illness.
A mum has shared a warning after her toddler “nearly died” when a sickness bug caused a deadly stroke.
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Hudson Reid was just two when he came down with what mum Amber Davidson, 29, thought was just a sickness bug after he was vomiting and “couldn’t keep fluids down”.
But when Amber spotted her tot’s arm was “stuck up”, his legs were “shooting out straight” and he was making “weird” noises she rushed Hudson to University Hospital Crosshouse A&E.
Amber says “within five minutes” Hudson had five doctors working on him trying to resuscitate her son after he lost consciousness on the drive to the hospital.
Despite a clear CT scan, Hudson remained unconscious for the next five days and an MRI revealed he had a “massive” blood clot and bleed on his brain which had caused a stroke.
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He was rushed to Glasgow Children’s ICU the following day after a neurologist realised the clot was caused by a “one in a billion” dehydration from his sickness bug, causing his blood to thicken.
Little Hudson spent four weeks in hospital and was given blood transfusions and put on blood thinners and despite being told he’d never “walk, talk or move again” he was up walking within a week.
Now seven, Hudson is attending school and is not letting “anything phase him” despite his brain being damaged from the severity of his stroke.
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Mum Amber says the effects of the stroke “impacts him a lot” through his movement – and he is prone to falling over often, as well as having speech issues, though says he lives a “pretty much a normal life”.
Amber, a self-employed beauty therapist, from Kilwinning, who originally spoke to Sell Us Your Story, said: “He’s a complete miracle.
“Even the doctors are blown away with him he’s proved everyone wrong.
“I first noticed his arm that day.
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“He was making a noise, not a cry but just a weird noise.
“I videoed him and sent it to my mother-in-law to see if she had any idea what was happening and because I know it’s common for kids to have seizures so thought it might be that.
“I phoned the doctors and said I think he’s having a seizure.
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“They said they’d get a doctor to phone me back.
“Before they phoned me I just looked at him and took him to the hospital.
“Within five minutes there were five doctors working on him.
“They were trying to resuscitate him – he was dying in front of us.”
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Hudson came down ill in September 2021 and when Amber spotted the unusual symptoms she sent a video to her mother-in-law and rang her GP for advise – and Amber says they said they would get a doctor to call her back.
A worried Amber took her son to A&E – believing he might be having a seizure – but CT scans came back clear.
He was admitted to the ward unconscious and did not wake for five days and every time he tried to fell into a seizure.
An MRI the following day confirmed he had a blood clot and bleed on the brain.
Amber said: “The hospital told us there was nothing else they could do and that he was an unwell wee boy.
“The last hope was sending the videos I took to a professor in Glasgow – he’s a neurologist and says it was a one in a billion chance Hudson had dehydration from his sickness bug that caused his blood to thicken and caused the bleed on his brain.
“Hudson was rushed to Glasgow Children’s and was in the ICU having blood transfusions, blood thinners, everything to do with strokes.
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“We were told Hudson wouldn’t walk, talk or move again.
“Within a week he was up and about.
“He still has a wee speech impediment and brain damage but he’s here, alive, walking and talking.”
Hudson spent four weeks in hospital recovering and had to be fed through an NG tube for six months as he was nil by mouth due to the stroke affecting movement in his mouth.
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Now, Hudson sees occupational therapists every six months, a dietician once a month and has speech and language therapy once a week.
He also visits hospital twice a year for check-ups and has regular blood tests and heart scans.
Amber said: “His movement is great but he does fall a lot and as he progresses is the point we’ll see how brain damaged he is going to be.
“We’re now at the point where other kids are progressing and Hudson is not and his brain damage is more apparent.
“We’re just taking it day by day just to see how he’s going to react.
“It’s just a waiting game.
“He’s such a sweet loving wee boy and has a heart of gold.
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“He doesn’t let anything phase him.”
Amber wants to raise awareness of strokes in children from sickness bugs, and admits she didn’t know the signs to look out for.
“I think it’s the stigma that strokes happen to older people,” she says.
“Obviously there’s a lot of awareness of strokes with the Face, Arms, Speech thing but I didn’t think a two-year-old would be able to have a stroke which is why in my mind I never even thought that.
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“Even now when I tell people my two-year-old has had a stroke they say ‘no way’ or ‘I didn’t know a stroke could happen to child that age’.
“At the time the adrenaline takes over and you go into mum mode.
“I feel like I was probably doubting myself or thinking ‘am I overreacting?’ before I took him to the hospital.
“I had no awareness of how severe the situation was.
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“It was only a few months after I thought ‘that actually happened, Hudson actually went through that’ but at the time I was just in mum mode and survival”.
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