Dr Alex George has revealed he almost DIED from septic shock in 2017.
The Love Island star detailed the ‘frightening’ ordeal in his latest YouTube video, and admitted he ‘owes his life’ to the NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital.
Dr Alex branded the terrifying experience – which took months to recover from – ‘a life changing moment,’ and confessed that it gave him ‘real sense of mortality.’
Fightening! Dr Alex George has revealed he almost DIED from septic shock as he detailed the ‘frightening’ ordeal in his latest YouTube video
Dr Alex took to Instagram on Sunday to encourage his followers to watch his latest YouTube video in order to learn more about the danger signs of sepsis.
Posting a photograph of himself in hospital during the ordeal, Alex wrote alongside: ‘The reason I am posting this grainy photo is because it was taken four days into being admitted to St Thomas hospital with sepsis in 2017.
‘It was a life changing moment for me. When I was taken to the resuscitation department I was not in a good state and scared about what could happen.
‘I have never really opened up about this until now, but I think it’s important to share my story so that others can spot the signs of sepsis early.
Candid: Dr Alex branded the terrifying experience – which took months to recover from – ‘a life changing moment,’ and confessed that it gave him ‘real sense of mortality’
Grateful: The reality star admitted he ‘owes his life’ to the NHS staff at St Thomas’ Hospital
‘Thank you to everyone at St Thomas hospital, your care was incredible. I share the full story in my latest YouTube video, which is now live on my channel.
The YouTube video was captioned: ‘I could have died – How SEPSIS changed my life! Dr Alex on septic shock.’
He explained that in the summer of 2017, one day he’d cycled six or seven miles into work at Lewisham hospital and wasn’t feeling ‘quite right.’
After soldiering on, he ended up with a fever at the end of his shift and during his cycle home was feeling ‘bleak, tired’ and really struggled on his journey home.
Following a shower and drinking water he took some painkillers and had planned to go to a house viewing, but felt breathless walking to the train station.
Knowledge is power: Alex explained that his skin became ‘mottled, patchy and pale’ and he realised that he wasn’t well at all, with his pulse racing. He realised he might be septic
Terrifying: ‘My blood pressure was very low, I was hypertensive… I was breathing very very quickly and had a temperature. It was clear that I had sepsis’ explained Alex
Alex explained that his skin became ‘mottled, patchy and pale’ and he realised that he wasn’t well at all, with his pulse racing. He realised he might be septic.
The Love Island star took the tube to Westminster but during his walk over Westminster bridge to St Thomas’ Hospital he ‘quickly deteriorated’
‘I started feeling really faint. I remember a few times having to stop and thinking “I’m going to pass out” My head was really light headed. I managed to drag myself across the bridge.’
At the point of almost blacking out he couldn’t fill in the A&E form, but a member of staff noticed and took Alex straight through to triage for immediate treatment.
‘My blood pressure was very low, I was hypertensive… I was breathing very very quickly and had a temperature. It was clear that I had sepsis.
Scary! ‘It was very serious and I’ve got to be honest, I was very frightened. I was on my own. It was very scary’ admitted Alex
‘Sepsis is basically an overreaction to an infection, leading to potential organ damage, and potential death, so it’s very very serious.’ explained Alex.
‘According to WHO 30 million people every year get sepsis and there are six million deaths.’
Alex was moved through to resuscitation, which is where the most serious patients are taken for emergency treatment.
‘It was very serious and I’ve got to be honest, I was very frightened. I was on my own. It was very scary, but I was rushed through into a cubicle where I was seen immediately by one of the senior doctors there.
The medical professionals immediately conducted blood tests, was pumped with fluids, broad-spectrum antibiotics and had a chest X-ray.
Wow! After four or five days in hospital, the Love Islander still found it difficult to ‘do the basics’ because his body was so ‘weak,’ and admitted it took him months to get better
‘I think what really scared me at the time was A, I was alone, B, how quickly it happened and also the fact that it took me a long while to respond.’
Later in the video, Alex admitted that he know he ‘owes his life’ to the team at St Thomas’ hospital.
After four or five days in hospital, the Love Islander still found it difficult to ‘do the basics’ because his body was so ‘weak,’ and admitted it took him months to get better.
Reflecting on the experience he explained that it gave him a ‘real sense of mortality’ and made him feel the need to take advantage of every opportunity, which included going on to take part in Love Island.