logo
I woke up from a three-day coma tied to a hospital bed with a brain-swelling virus after snorkelling on holiday

I woke up from a three-day coma tied to a hospital bed with a brain-swelling virus after snorkelling on holiday

The Sun3 days ago
REBECCA Roskilly was terrified to wake up alone in a Turkish hospital with her legs strapped to the bed.
The 30-year-old's ordeal grew even more frightening when she found out she had been in a coma for three days and was battling a killer brain infection.
7
7
"I thought 'oh my god, I'm going to die'," the mum, from Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire, said.
Just days earlier, Rebecca had set off for a seven-day holiday in Marmaris, Turkey, with her husband Vincent Roskilly-Pearson, 28, and their four children.
She had been snorkelling with her kids on a boat trip but avoided putting her head underwater as she suffers from tinnitus - a permanent ringing in the ears.
This is after she burst her eardrum while scuba diving 10 years ago, an injury doctors believe may have made her more vulnerable to infection.
By the time she had got back to the hotel, she started experiencing tinnitus symptoms, which often includes persistent ringing, buzzing, or whooshing sound in the ears.
"I thought it could be something to do with the boat trip." she said.
"Lots of things can trigger it [tinnitus] but mainly noise and if I get water into it. I do try to avoid getting water in my ear.
"My children are very noisy so they add to the tinnitus so I thought maybe I just need some peace and quiet.
She added: "I'm no stranger to ear pain so I did not think it was going to progress into this."
The next day, the family planned to visit a waterpark, but Rebecca decided to stay behind at the hotel.
'MOST TRAUMATIC DAY OF MY LIFE' My son, 18, wrote his illness off as a hangover - hours later he was dead
"I said to my husband 'my ear is still doing my head in so I won't be able to enjoy it. You take the girls and I'll stay at home with the baby'," she explained.
But Vincent refused to leave her side because she "didn't look right."
"We were told that if he had done that he would've come back to a dead body. He went against my judgement and stayed," Rebecca said.
As Rebecca began losing consciousness, her husband called for an ambulance.
"I am so grateful my partner stayed with me and didn't go to the waterpark," she said.
"I can be quite stubborn so I'm surprised I didn't just say 'no, just go'. I need to listen to him more."
After being rushed to hospital, Rebecca was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis and swelling of the brain, which left her in a coma for three days.
7
7
7
'SUCH A NIGHTMARE'
Once she woke up, doctors performed a procedure on her eardrum and believe the infection may have stemmed from an undiagnosed ear issue she picked up back in the UK.
Rebecca said: "Apparently [the doctors] were trying to do procedures on me and because I was so confused I was getting aggressive and lashing out.
"I had to be further sedated and restrained so they could actually find out what was wrong with me. That caused me to slip into a coma for three days.
"Then I woke up properly and immediately was confused where my husband and children were and what was going on and realised my arms and legs were strapped to my bed.
"It was shocking. I didn't believe it when they said three days. I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
She added: "It was terrified waking up hearing about brain swelling because my dad died of a haemorrhage to the brain.
"They did a procedure on my ear and it was excruciating because they sawed my ear drum."
The family were due to fly back home on July 3, but are now waiting until Rebecca is fit to fly and she remains on an IV drip and has to take painkillers.
What is meningitis and how you can you avoid getting it?
MENINGITIS is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord (meninges).
It can be very serious if not treated quickly - it can cause life-threatening sepsis and result in permanent damage to the brain or nerves.
Symptoms include:
a high temperature (fever)
being sick
a headache
a rash that does not fade when a glass is rolled over it (but a rash will not always develop)
a stiff neck
a dislike of bright lights
drowsiness or unresponsiveness
seizures (fits)
Call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.
Meningitis is usually caused by a bacterial or viral infection.
Bacterial meningitis is rarer but more serious than viral meningitis.
Infections that cause meningitis can be spread through:
sneezing
coughing
kissing
Vaccinations offer some protection against certain causes of meningitis.
These include the:
MenB vaccine – offered to babies aged 8 weeks, followed by a second dose at 16 weeks and a booster at 1 year
6-in-1 vaccine – offered to babies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age
pneumococcal vaccine – 2 doses offered to babies at 12 weeks and 1 year, and a single dose offered to adults aged 65 or over
Hib/MenC vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year of age
MMR vaccine – offered to babies at 1 year and a second dose at 3 years and 4 months
MenACWY vaccine – offered to teenagers, sixth formers and "fresher" students going to university for the first time
Source: NHS
"I came on this lovely holiday with my family and never expected it to turn into such a nightmare," she said.
Luckily, the parent had travel insurance but her friends set up a GoFundMe page to support the family while Rebecca is unable to work.
Rebecca said: "We're just stranded here. They're going to try and get me on a normal flight but they're going to get me airport assistance. I'm able to do little walks but as far as getting around an airport I don't think I'll be able to do that.
"It's hard to sit up for more than about 60 minutes at the moment without needing to lie back down because my head feels like it's spinning. It's day by day.
"[The GoFundMe page] is absolutely incredible.
"It's been a massive help and benefit because whether the insurance drags their heels a bit on sorting my family's accommodations, the insurers say they'll pay it back but that's to be seen.
"There's other costs like food and drink for my children.
"Because we're self employed we've got no income right now and we're missing out on a lot of markets and events that we do."
7
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Mum issues chilling warning after her ‘gorgeous' daughter, 15, died of an accidental paracetamol overdose
Mum issues chilling warning after her ‘gorgeous' daughter, 15, died of an accidental paracetamol overdose

The Sun

time8 hours ago

  • The Sun

Mum issues chilling warning after her ‘gorgeous' daughter, 15, died of an accidental paracetamol overdose

ALICE Clark was like any other 15-year-old girl - excited for her prom, a lover of animals, Christmas and her family. But in December 2024, after being off school sick for two days, with her mum Joanne Garcia-Dios watching over her, she died of a paracetamol overdose. When Joanne, 43, found her daughter incoherent in her bedroom, she discovered from friends that Alice had taken a fatal dose of the painkiller days before. Joanne and her family, from West Parley, near Bournmouth, Dorset, do not believe Alice meant to end her life, and are petitioning for the law to change regarding the sale of paracetamol. Here, she tells her story and makes a plea to all parents... IT was a summer's day, but as I walked into the kitchen, it smelt like Christmas. As 'Merry Christmas Everyone' blasted from the speakers, my daughter Alice, then 11, turned to me, flour dusted on her cheeks. 'What do you think, Mum?' she said, pulling out a tray of gingerbread men. 'They're perfect, sweetheart, but it's only August!' I chuckled. 'You know Christmas is my favourite time of year,' she grinned. 'I couldn't wait!' Alice was always making me, her stepdad Rudi and brother Jake, 17, laugh. Jake and Alice were each other's worlds. Alongside Christmas, Alice adored animals and enjoyed collecting snails and woodlice from the garden, making them her pets. Scientists discover that even really low doses of paracetamol could damage your heart She was family-orientated too, and loved spending time with my parents – who she called Nanny and Bop-Bop – and her dad, Rob. Before I knew it, my little girl had turned 15. Her GCSEs were her next big exams and after that, her prom. Alice had sent me photos of prom dresses she liked, all in her favourite shade, baby blue. I knew she would look like a princess, with her blonde hair and model looks. At Christmas, she had a tree up in her room, decorated with Jellycat teddies. It was a December morning when I went into her bedroom, but she didn't seem herself. 'I've got a funny tummy,' she said. 'Don't worry about school today,' I told her. I was working from home so I could keep an eye on her. She spent the day on the sofa, but later, seemed to rally. She went to her orthodontist appointment and was her normal chatty self. But the next morning, she texted me from her room. 10 10 'I've been sick and my tummy hurts,' she wrote. Alice was sick a few more times that day, but she was also laughing and joking. 'I'm popping out for a bit,' I said to Alice later. 'Do you need anything?' But when she replied, she wasn't making sense and slurring her words. What Alice's friend told me left me reeling Mothers' instinct kicked in - could it be a stroke, I thought? 'What's your brother called?' I asked. 'I don't have a brother,' she replied. I asked her what month it was, thinking she had to know with the Christmas tree right beside her. But to my shock, she was stumped. 'I'm ringing 999,' I said to Rudi. As we waited for paramedics, Alice's phone didn't stop ringing. 'Alice is really poorly and can't talk now,' I told her friend. But what he said sent me reeling. He told me my girl had taken an overdose of paracetamol two days ago. 'No way,' I said, not believing it. But the first thing I did was tell the paramedics. 'This isn't my daughter, but I'm relaying what I've been told,' I said. Alice was so sensible, and had seemed absolutely fine. She was rushed to hospital, where they ran tests all night. Rudi, Rob and I were beside ourselves. Alice was falling in and out of consciousness and so confused, as we stayed by her side all night. The next morning, the doctor came to see us. 'Alice has acute liver failure,' he said. They believed it was caused by taking too many paracetamol tablets. Alice was given dialysis treatment, but wasn't improving. We were told that Alice would need to be put into an induced coma and moved to a specialist hospital in London. 'It'll give her brain the best chance of survival,' the doctor said. 10 10 While Alice was transferred by ambulance, I picked up Jake. Back at hospital, doctors told us the next few days were critical. As the hours passed, we held Alice's hands and stroked her hair. Heartbreaking goodbyes By 10pm, we hadn't slept for so long, so we decided to go and get some rest. 'Good night, Alice,' I said, kissing her forehead, before Jake and I went to the family accommodation. Only 10 minutes later, Rob called me. 'You need to get back now,' he said. Jake and I ran to her ward. Rudi and one of my sisters had just been driving home, but they turned back too. 'I'm so sorry, but Alice isn't responding to treatment,' the doctor said. Then suddenly she went into cardiac arrest. After 25 minutes, she came round, but moments later, they were working on her again. Jake was too upset and waited in the family room with his auntie, my sister, while Rob and my husband tried to shield me from what was happening. But despite trying for another half an hour, they couldn't save Alice. I let out a cry of pain as Rudi held me. I'd never believed she wouldn't make it, never thought I'd need to say 'I love you'. The loss was excruciating. We were allowed some time with Alice, and Jake helped the nurse take Alice's hand and footprints. Searching for answers The next days sped by in a blur of grief and confusion. I just couldn't understand why Alice had taken the pills and how she'd deteriorated so quickly. The police took her phone to glean clues from her messages. In time, we held Alice's funeral, where everyone wore a splash of baby blue. Car-loving Alice would have been thrilled to be escorted to her prom in a supercar, but she'd never get that chance, so my son-in-law contacted three supercar owners to accompany her on her final journey. As her coffin was carried out of the car, the drivers of the cars, including a Lamborghini and Ferrari, revved their engines. My eulogy, which was read out by the priest, talked of her love for her family, Jellycats, cars and loud music. 'Alice left this world far too soon, leaving behind so many people who absolutely adored her,' he said. 'She leaves a huge emptiness in the hearts of everyone who loved her.' After police returned Alice's phone and I'd spoken to her friends, I pieced together, as best as I could, what had happened before she died. My beautiful, smiley Alice never appeared to be in a dark place and her struggles with mental health escalated so quickly, it came as a horrendous shock to us all. Joanne Snapchat and TikTok messages from Alice showed she had taken several paracetamol tablets in one go over several hours. She'd received harassing, then nasty messages from school pupils and also had the stress of looming exams. Although she'd told several of her peers she had taken the pills, none of them had told an adult. I learnt that if caught early, doctors could have pumped her stomach and even 24 hours later, they could have given her medicine that reversed the effects. If only someone had said something, I thought, desperately. We don't believe Alice realised the severity of what she'd done, or that taking that many paracetamol could kill her. We believe that Alice thought that by being sick she was getting them out of her system. 'I've done something silly' By the time any of us, including her, realised something serious was wrong, she wasn't talking properly or making any sense. Even in those conscious moments, she still didn't tell us what she'd done. She told one of her boy friends, "I've done something silly" - we don't believe she meant to end her life. As time went on, I did more research and was shocked. People saw paracetamol as harmless and readily available, but thousands were admitted to hospital with overdoses every year. I wanted everyone to know the dangers, that medicines should be locked away, even if parents thought they had sensible children. I've started a petition to call for the medication to be taken from supermarket shelves and placed behind the counter at a pharmacy, where it can be dispensed by a pharmacist. I also want to raise awareness of the symptoms and the importance of speaking up if you know someone has taken too many tablets, even if it feels as if you're betraying their trust. My beautiful, smiley Alice never appeared to be in a dark place and her struggles with mental health escalated so quickly, it came as a horrendous shock to us all. My life's purpose now is to raise awareness of her death and prevent this from happening to anyone else. In the name of my gorgeous girl, I'm determined to save others. 10 10

I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it
I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it

The Sun

time8 hours ago

  • The Sun

I've gone from a size 18 to an 8 in 9 months on Mounjaro & still losing weight, I was sick for weeks but it was worth it

A WOMAN who has managed to shift over six stone thanks to Mounjaro has shared the side effects she suffered. Sophie Barrella took to social media to share her incredible transformation, and people were stunned by the results. 2 2 The mum said she started her weight loss journey nine months ago and had already shed 6.5 stone. She started her journey at 15.7st and a size 18, and in less than a year has gone down to a size 8. In the image, the mum could be seen with her partner and child before losing weight. She wore a one-sleeve dress and was turned to the side and looked obviously larger. But now, in the pictures of her weight loss, the mum wore a tight fitting pink dress to show off her new body and beamed at the camera. She captioned the post: "9 months later and I'm down 6 and a half stone! "Finished June 2025 at current 9 stone 3 and still loosing! Size 8. "Worth every penny and side effect I suffered!!" In the comments of the Facebook post, Sophie shared just some of the side effects she suffered from. She wrote: "I found I had headaches from 5mg, then the nausea crept in. Then from 7.5 and 10mg I have had constant grumbling in my stomach, so badly it wakes me up every single night for the next 4 days after injecting and I would have sickness 3-4 times a night. I've lost nearly 6 stone in 9 months on fat jabs - trolls call me 'lazy' & say it's the 'easy way out' but I don't care "Could only sleep on my back because when I was on my side the gas in my stomach would gurgle so loudly and caused me a lot of pain, but again, only 4 days after injecting! Then I would be okay until jab day. "Was honestly worth it all. If you're thinking about it, just go for it! Will change your life." The post was shared on the Facebook group, Mounjaro Ozempic Wegovy weight loss support, where those on the weight loss jabs come together to support each other. Many were quick to congratulate Sophie on her weight loss. One person wrote: "How have you not managed to have excess skin. You look amazing." "Well done fantastic achievement," penned a third. What to do if you lose too much weight too quickly whilst on Mounjaro IF you're losing too much weight too quickly while on Mounjaro, it's important to take action to avoid potential health risks like muscle loss, malnutrition, dehydration, and fatigue. Here's what you can do: Evaluate Your Caloric Intake Mounjaro reduces appetite, which can make it easy to eat too little. If you're losing weight too fast (more than two to three lbs per week after the initial adjustment period), try: Tracking your food intake to ensure you're eating enough calories (apps like MyFitnessPal can help). Increasing protein intake to preserve muscle mass (aim for 0.6–1g per pound of body weight). Adding healthy fats and complex carbs (e.g., avocados, nuts, whole grains) for balanced energy. Adjust Your Dosage (With Doctor's Approval) If your weight loss is too rapid or causing side effects, your doctor may: Pause dose increases or lower your dosage. Adjust your treatment plan to stabilise your weight loss. Strength Training & Exercise To prevent muscle loss: Incorporate resistance training at least two to three times per week. Stay active with low-impact exercises like walking or yoga. Hydrate & Manage Electrolytes Drink enough water (Mounjaro can reduce thirst). Electrolytes matter - Consider adding magnesium, sodium, and potassium if you feel weak or fatigued. Monitor for Malnutrition & Deficiencies Rapid weight loss can cause vitamin/mineral deficiencies (especially B12, iron, and electrolytes). If you experience: Fatigue, hair loss, or dizziness, ask your doctor about supplements. Consider Further Medical Guidance If your weight loss is excessive or causing health concerns, speak with your healthcare provider. They might adjust your dosage, diet, or exercise plan to help stabilise your weight loss. Meanwhile a fourth said: "You look stunning!" "You look amazing,' claimed a fifth

India's Dr Reddy's plans to launch generic obesity drugs in 87 countries next year, CEO says
India's Dr Reddy's plans to launch generic obesity drugs in 87 countries next year, CEO says

Reuters

timea day ago

  • Reuters

India's Dr Reddy's plans to launch generic obesity drugs in 87 countries next year, CEO says

HYDERABAD July 23 (Reuters) - Dr Reddy's Laboratories ( opens new tab plans to launch a cheaper copycat version of Novo Nordisk's ( opens new tab blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy in 87 countries next year, the Indian drugmaker's CEO, Erez Israeli, said on Wednesday. Drugmakers are racing to get a share of the global obesity drug market, expected to generate around $150 billion in sales by the early 2030s, after Denmark-based Novo and its U.S. rival Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab saw extraordinary demand for their medicines. Dr Reddy's initially plans to launch the generic version of semaglutide - the active ingredient of Novo's Wegovy and diabetes medicine Ozempic - in Canada, India, Brazil, Turkey and other emerging markets, subject to patent expiry, Israeli said. "U.S. and Europe will open later... (and) all the other Western markets will be open between 2029 to 2033," Israeli said a press conference to discuss the company's earnings. He expects the generic drug to generate 'hundreds of millions of dollars' in sales for the company. Semaglutide's patent is expected to expire in several countries next year, including in India in March. Novo Nordisk had sued Dr Reddy's in May alleging patent infringement of semaglutide, according to documents seen by Reuters. Dr Reddy's has filed relevant regulatory applications in all the countries it is planning to launch the generic version in, Israeli said. Other Indian drugmakers, including Cipla ( opens new tab, Lupin ( opens new tab, Biocon ( opens new tab, Sun Pharma ( opens new tab, also plan to launch these generic weight-loss drugs after Novo's and Lilly's success. Novo launched Wegovy in India last month, following Lilly's Mounjaro launch for weight-loss and diabetes management. The drugs belong to a class called GLP-1 receptor agonists that help control blood sugar and slow digestion, making people feel fuller for longer. Dr Reddy's also aims to launch 26 GLP-1 drugs within the next decade, Israeli said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store