The family of a young man who sadly passed away shortly after experiencing what he believed to be ‘fresher’s flu’ is urging young adults to take illnesses seriously and not dismiss them as trivial.
Lucas Martin, a recent graduate from the University of Liverpool with a degree in international business, died just days after he began feeling unwell. His family initially thought his symptoms were merely the common ailments students encounter at the start of the academic year.
Lucas’ brother, Connor, is now emphasizing the importance of recognizing symptoms for what they might truly be. He shares that both the family and Lucas himself mistook his fever and headaches for ‘fresher’s flu,’ a term used in the UK for common student illnesses.
Connor, who works as a software engineer, shared, “He had no distinct signs of any illness. He became poorly a week or so before he was admitted to hospital, and we all thought it was the equivalent of fresher’s flu.”
“He was up in his room a lot of the time, and unfortunately, we weren’t monitoring him closely. We all assumed it was just a severe case of the flu,” Connor explained.
“He showed signs of improvement at times, only to worsen again, but it never seemed severe enough to cause significant concern.”
Unknown to his family, the 21-year-old had contracted meningitis, a serious disease that causes inflammation around the brain. Lucas did not exhibit the typical symptoms of meningitis, such as a rash or sensitivity to light, which made it more difficult to identify.
Connor, aged 29, added, “He just had flu-like symptoms.”
Lucas had been spending his summer on the Isle of Man with his family, working part-time and considering his future plans. Connor suggests that his brother’s active lifestyle may have been a factor: “He was working hard so whether that contributed to it at all, I don’t know.”
About five days into his illness, Lucas’ father, Brett, noticed something unusual during a phone call—Lucas was ‘mumbling and not making sense’.
With Connor located in Birmingham and their parents visiting another brother in Edinburgh, Lucas’ uncle went to check on him and found him in a dire condition.
Lucas was urgently taken to the hospital, diagnosed with meningitis, and put into an induced coma. Tragically, he never regained consciousness and passed away on September 12, 2023.
“We describe him as a force of nature,” Connor reflected. “He was very entrepreneurial and driven… a personable young man taken too soon.”
Connor hopes his brother’s story will serve as a cautionary tale for others.
“If you’re worried, take action. Don’t just dismiss it as flu. We work hard not to blame ourselves – we just didn’t think of it,” he expressed.
You can read more about Lucas’ story and support the charity established in his honor here: Looky’s Aid