Duncan Bannatyne's daughter nearly died after she mistook sepsis for a hangover.
Duncan Bannatyne
Abi Bannatyne, 34, thought her health troubles were simply the result of partying too hard at a friend's wedding in France, but instead, she'd developed the potentially life-threatening condition.
The mum-of-two - who is trying to raise awareness of the condition - shared: "I originally thought the symptoms were just a hangover from my friend's wedding.
"We had a pretty mad weekend so when I got to work on Monday morning I was still feeling unwell and just presumed I was still getting over it.
"By lunchtime, I was freezing cold and sitting next to a heater when one of my colleagues told me I looked unwell and should head home to rest.
"I had a lot of pain in my lower back and felt stiff, I got into bed and couldn't lift my head up from my pillow and then I started vomiting uncontrollably even though I couldn't eat.
"My aunty had to collect my children from school but I was still adamant it was a hangover and that I would be fine in a couple of days."
Abi remained in bed, but her health soon deteriorated and her temperature rose to 42 degrees, which prompted her to seek help.
She recalled: "I was being so sick and I felt like I was dying, that's why I decided to ring 111 at around 4am.
"I didn't have a thermometer so I think if I had checked my temperature at that point I would have realised how ill I was.
"I had been telling everyone that I was fine as I didn't want to bother emergency services if I was just suffering with flu.
"I was told to get a doctors appointment first thing in the morning and if I couldn't make it till then that I should ring 999 but by 7am I called for an ambulance.
"Things suddenly got serious when she took my temperature and the paramedic said that we needed to get to hospital straight away."
As it turned out, a previous course of treatment had failed to clear up a water infection.
Dr Ron Daniels, the chief executive of the UK Sepsis Trust, added: "Stories like Abi's remind us of the serious damage sepsis can do.
"Every day in the UK, individuals and families have their lives torn apart by the condition, but better awareness could save thousands of lives each year."
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