Elle Black has spoken out about the sepsis scare that nearly killed her during her first year at university.
Black, now 21, was 18 and a first-year student at Cardiff University in Wales when she developed life-threatening sepsis in February 2024 after a night watching Six Nations rugby with friends. The media and journalism student, who has since graduated with first-class honors, initially dismissed her symptoms as a bad hangover before rapidly deteriorating.
“Naturally, everyone, including me at first, assumed I was just suffering from a bad hangover,” she said in a statement about the ordeal. “I later realised this wasn’t a hangover or a virus. It was something much more serious. I went straight to hospital.”
The warning signs that something was gravely wrong came as Black became overwhelmingly drowsy, unable to keep food down, and feverish to the point of swinging between hot and cold. She arranged an online consultation where laryngitis was suspected and antibiotics were prescribed, but by then she was too ill to collect them.
The crisis point arrived when intense muscle pain set in and Black took herself directly to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. She told the triage team she was worried it could be sepsis. Within 15 minutes she had been triaged, and less than half an hour after arriving she was receiving IV antibiotics and fluids.
Doctors confirmed her sepsis had developed from quinsy, a serious complication of tonsillitis. She remained in hospital for several days while doctors monitored her condition and confirmed the infection was under control, later moving to oral antibiotics as she improved.
“That speed is the reason I’m still here,” she said.
Before discharge, doctors delivered a stark warning: if Black had waited even 12 hours longer, her prognosis could have been very different.
“Hearing that really brought home just how serious sepsis is, and how important it is to recognise the symptoms and act quickly,” she said. “I’m incredibly grateful that I trusted my instincts when I did.”
The full weight of her condition did not hit Black immediately. It was only days into recovery that the reality set in, both for her and her family, who had rushed to the hospital once they understood the severity of the situation.
“As soon as she realised how seriously ill I was, my family dropped everything and got to the hospital as quickly as they could,” Black said. “Like many people, they knew very little about sepsis beforehand. It opened all our eyes to how quickly it can develop, and how it can affect absolutely anyone, regardless of age or how healthy they are.”
The recovery proved grueling even after the infection cleared. “Sepsis really takes it out of you,” Black said. “Even after the infection had been treated, I was left feeling exhausted for weeks.”
The experience fundamentally shifted her outlook. “It’s completely changed my perspective. I no longer take my health for granted, and I’m much more aware of listening to my body and trusting my instincts.”
Black is now using her story to push for systemic change, specifically targeting university induction programs. “Personally, I think recognising the symptoms of sepsis should be a mandatory part of university induction,” she said. “Students are often living away from home for the first time and making decisions about their own health. Knowing what sepsis looks like could make the difference between seeking help in time or dismissing the symptoms as something less serious.”
Her broader message centers on urgency and self-advocacy. “Make yourself aware of the symptoms of sepsis. It can happen to absolutely anyone. Trust your instincts. If you or someone you know becomes suddenly and seriously unwell, don’t be afraid to seek urgent medical help. It is always better to be checked than to wait, because with sepsis, every minute matters.”
Black has also called for wider education efforts aimed at young people specifically, noting that her own unfamiliarity with sepsis nearly cost her life.
Around 11 million people die from sepsis worldwide each year, according to health organizations tracking the condition.
Black continues to share her experience publicly as she advocates for mandatory sepsis recognition training at universities across the UK.