Latest news with #AbiBurton
The Sun
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Sun
I was given antidepressants before attacking parents… docs thought it was a breakdown but it was something more sinister
WAKING up and slowly opening her eyes, Abi Burton gazed around the hospital room. Staring back at the England rugby star were the desperately worried faces of her parents as she wondered what on earth had happened to her. 17 17 17 Back in 2022, Olympian Abi, 25, was put in a medically induced coma by doctors for almost a month after what they thought could be a mental health episode caused by antidepressants. But after numerous tests, it turned out to be something even more sinister - a deadly brain-eating disease that made her extremely aggressive - even causing her to lash out at her parents. It left her unable to walk and suffering from severe memory loss as she battled to make it back onto the rugby pitch. Abi, who was called up to the England national women's rugby union team in January this year, shares her shocking story with The Sun. 'I was numb' I had no clue. I knew I was in the hospital but I didn't really feel anything, I was numb. It was summer 2022, and unbeknownst to me I had been lying in a medically induced coma for almost a month. With zero memory of what had happened, I could only listen in total disbelief as my parents explained what had led to me waking up 25 days later and 44lbs (20kg) lighter. My mum, Sarah, told me that when doctors decided they wanted to put me in a medically induced coma, she wasn't there, and my poor dad Danny had to make that decision alone. He confessed to me that he carried the weight of that decision every day, feeling like if I hadn't woken up he would have killed me. I heard how they had kept the extent of how ill I was hidden from my two younger brothers, twins Joe and Oliver, 23, and carried the worry themselves, just trying to keep the family together. What is Encephalitis and its consequences As soon as I woke up, I was in floods of tears, and we all held hands together. They did not leave my side. Prior to all this I had been struggling for a long time, not feeling like myself and battling with my mental health. I started to feel different in May 2022. I am a bubbly person, but I started to not want to spend time with friends, and I just felt sad most of the time. A psychologist I went to see for some answers thought I had depression and I was put on the antidepressant sertraline in June. I was desperate to feel like my old self again, but days later I had a fitting seizure at the dinner table that lasted for six minutes. 'I was sectioned' Horrified, my mum called an ambulance and I was rushed to A&E. I was desperate to know what was wrong with me, and at first, doctors thought maybe the antidepressants had caused it. After that, I suddenly went from a very timid person to having manic and aggressive behaviour. I punched my mum in the face with my phone, I pulled spindles off the stairs, and tried to hit people with them. Doctors came to the conclusion I had stress -induced psychosis due to my job as an Olympic rugby union player and the high-pressure environment I was in, gearing up for the Commonwealth Games. I kept displaying aggressive behaviour towards anyone who would come near me. I kicked nurses in the hospital and put one of them out of work for a few days. I even picked up knives and got into full-on physical fights with my parents - who were devastated and worried sick. 17 17 I had two more frightening seizures before I was eventually sectioned at the hospital under section two, which means all your rights are taken from you. I couldn't function. Normal daily tasks like going outside for a walk or taking food from the fridge felt impossible. I continued having seizures, both twitchy facial ones and seizures where I completely blanked out. It was only while I was sectioned that a blood test revealed I had autoimmune encephalitis, which occurs when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the brain. 'Completely baffled' By this point in July, I was so poorly and too agitated for treatment, doctors told my dad I had to be put into a medically induced coma. Originally, it was supposed to be four days, so they could treat me, but it became a lot longer. And that is what had led me to finally waking up three and a half weeks later, with no idea at all of what had happened. One of the main symptoms of encephalitis is that you lose all memory, and it was a lot to wake up and find out how differently I had behaved as a person. I pride myself on first impressions really mattering. Then I discovered a lot of people had met me for the first time and I was trying to hurt them because I thought they were trying to hurt me. 17 17 17 I still carry a lot of guilt around, especially towards my parents having to go through all of that. And I don't remember any of it. I was shocked when people I thought I had met for the first time in the hospital told me stories about how I had pushed them out of the way. "Oh, you look so much better than last time I saw you," a security guard I didn't recognise said to me. Completely baffled, I asked my mum what he meant and she told me I had got out of the ward and rugby tackled three people and had to be sedated. Hearing that was just so shocking, I could never imagine doing anything like it. What is encephalitis? Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain. It can vary in its severity, with typical symptoms including a reduction or alteration in consciousness, aphasia (an inability to understand or produce speech), headache, fever, confusion, a stiff neck, and vomiting. Complications may include seizures, hallucinations, speech problems, memory problems, and hearing problems. It can be life-threatening and requires urgent treatment in hospital. In many cases, the cause remains unknown. But encephalitis can be triggered by viruses and rabies, as well as bacteria, fungi, or parasites. Other causes include autoimmune diseases and certain medications. Diagnosis is typically made by carrying out blood tests, analysing cerebrospinal fluid and medical imaging. Treatment often involves antiviral medicines, steroid injections, antibiotics, painkillers, drugs to control seizures, and ventilators. How long someone with encephalitis needs to stay in hospital can range from a few days to several weeks or even months. Many patients make a full recovery, but some are left with long-term damage to their brain, which can cause memory loss, seizures, behavioural changes, persistent tiredness and issues with attention, concentration, planning and problem solving. Source: NHS On the pitch, I'm an aggressive character. But off it, I'm quite a gentle giant. It just did not sound like me at all and it was so hard to comprehend that this had happened. 'An absolute journey' Waking up, I thought I could do anything. And with Rugby World Cup Sevens three weeks away, I was certain I could still take part - even though I couldn't even walk to the toilet on my own. I turned purple on an exercise bike and my heart rate went through the roof. Still, I was very optimistic and said: "I will be OK in three weeks." My mum firmly answered: 'No you will not.' Of course, I wasn't able to compete, but from a rugby point of view, I've been able to get back to playing internationally, which is everything I had hoped for when I woke up. From a cognitive point of view, having to adapt my life into something different has been an absolute journey. 17 17 17 Today, I am a bit slower and I forget what I have told people. The ordeal has changed my perspective on life in general. It sucks when you're not selected for a tournament. It sucks when you get injured. But actually, I just have to tell myself, at least I'm not dying again. In the past, not getting chosen for tournaments or getting injured used to feel like the end of the world, and I would think: "I'm never going to come back from this." But now, as long as I'm healthy and happy and my friends and family are too, then that's all I can ask for. I've faced the reality that I might never play rugby again and it now allows me to enjoy it a lot more, rather than put so much pressure on it and my teammates. My closest friends are in the seventh squad and they were with me through it all, and they were some of the first people to see me when I woke up. They've supported me throughout this entire journey and will continue to support me, even though it was difficult for them at the time. The staff made the decision not to tell any of the girls that I was in a coma while it was the Commonwealth Games and I was absent. My mum didn't want them to know either because she didn't want it to affect the tournament. But they knew there was something not quite right - and ultimately, it has brought us closer as a squad. 'Never give up' One of our family mottos is, 'Never give up', which I've got tattooed on my foot. I am proud I was able to go back to university to graduate in exercise science in March 2024, and that happened so quickly because of my family. One of the main things I want to say to everyone is - allow yourself to rely on the people that love you, because there will be people who love you. Sometimes you might not feel it, but the people who support you and the people who love you will be the people who carry you through those times. It's all about being able to lean on those people. Now, aged 25, it doesn't feel like it even happened to me. Even though it spanned over a period of four month, I can't really comprehend it even happened. I look back at photos from that period and it literally feels like a distant dream. If you're experiencing similar feelings, please go to your GP. Don't ignore it. And if you have seizures, you are within your rights to get someone to look at you. Make sure you seek help. 17 17 17
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Burton in 'dream' England women's rugby debut three years after 25-day coma
At the double: England's Abi Burton crowns her Test debut with the second of her two tries in a 67-12 Women's Six Nations win over Wales (Adrian Dennis) England's Abi Burton capped a "dream" Test debut by coming off the bench to score two tries as England hammered Wales in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday, three years after spending 25 days in a coma while battling encephalitis. Advertisement The two-time Olympic Sevens competitor has made a remarkable comeback to elite rugby union after a 76-day stay in hospital in 2022 after dealing with the auto-immune condition which attacks the brain. Burton lost three stone in weight and was wrongly detained under mental health regulations after an initial misdiagnosis. The back-row forward came on with just 13 minutes of normal time left at Cardiff's Principality Stadium yet still managed to score two of England's 11 tries in the 67-12 rout. "I'm so excited," Burton, 25, told the BBC. "I've tried not to let the emotion get the better of me this week but, honestly, this group is unbelievable and I'm so grateful to be a part of it, so yeah it was a dream debut. Advertisement "Earlier on this week when we came for the team run I just stood here (on the pitch) and I just absolutely relished it. It's unbelievable and to make my debut here also is like a really big dream come true. Twickenham would be amazing, but this is also pretty cool as well." Burton, speaking in midweek about the health problems she had overcome, said: "It's super freeing." "I now play without the thought that I'm going to disappoint somebody or disappoint whoever's around me, because ultimately every time I step on to the pitch now, I think this could be the last time because there was a point where I didn't even ever think like that." She added: "I probably took some of those moments, those five, six years that I had playing in international rugby in the Sevens, going to all these extraordinary places, probably took those for granted quite a bit. "So now when I step on the pitch, good game, bad game, I'm just happy to be running around with my mates, smashing people up, doing what I love." jdg/dj
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
GB Sevens' Shekells in England Six Nations squad
Women's Six NationsEngland v ItalyVenue: LNER Community Stadium, York Date: Sunday, 23 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMTCoverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC Radio and BBC Sport website and app England head coach John Mitchell has included GB Sevens player Jade Shekells in his Women's Six Nations squad before their opener against Italy on 2024 Paris Olympian, who recently played for GB in the Vancouver leg of the World Sevens Series in February, is uncapped in the XVs is one of four players who might make their Red Roses debut in York, including Ealing's Abi Burton, Leicester's Charlotte Fray and Exeter's Flo absences from the 37-woman squad are Harlequins hooker Connie Powell and Bristol wing Millie squad will be led for the first time by new captain Zoe Aldcroft, who helped Gloucester-Hartpury win the Premiership Women's Rugby (PWR) title for the third time in a row on has impressed in a handful of games for Gloucester-Hartpury at outside centre this season but has moved in and out of the Great Britain Sevens set-up. It is understood England are looking at her as a Mia Venner is included after an excellent season, culminating in an impressive outing with club side Gloucester-Hartpury in the PWR is now in the mix for one of the most open selection battles before the Rugby World Cup in wing competition includes the comeback of Claudia MacDonald at Exeter, the return from injury of Jess Breach, Abby Dow's expected return from a hand injury and now hooker Connie Powell will not be able to add to her 19 caps as she is overtaken in the pecking order by Saracens' May Saracens losing the PWR final, Campbell has had a stellar season at club level would have been near-impossible to leave out of the has also proven her versatility with a number of appearances in the back are reigning Women's Six Nations champions and are aiming to win a seventh title in a row. England Women's Six Nations squad ForwardsZoe Aldcroft (capt) (Gloucester-Hartpury), Lark Atkin-Davies (Bristol Bears), Sarah Beckett (Gloucester-Hartpury) Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears) Hannah Botterman (Bristol Bears) Georgia Brock (Gloucester-Hartpury) Abi Burton (Trailfinders Women), May Campbell (Saracens), Mackenzie Carson (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Clifford (Saracens), Amy Cokayne (Leicester Tigers), Maddie Feaunati (Exeter Chiefs), Charlotte Fray (Leicester Tigers), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Lilli Ives Campion (Loughborough Lightning), Sadia Kabeya (Loughborough Lightning), Alex Matthews (Gloucester-Hartpury), Maud Muir (Gloucester-Hartpury), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Morwenna Talling (Sale Sharks), Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears)BacksHolly Aitchison (Bristol Bears), Jess Breach (Saracens), Abby Dow (Trailfinders Women), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Megan Jones (Leicester Tigers), Ellie Kildunne (Harlequins), Claudia MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Lucy Packer (Harlequins), Flo Robinson (Exeter Chiefs), Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning), Jade Shekells (Gloucester-Hartpury), Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), Mia Venner (Gloucester-Hartpury)
