I thought my headache was a hangover, but it was meningitis – I nearly DIED in hospital, says Love Island’s Jack Fowler
LOVE Island star Jack Fowler has opened up about his horrific battle with meningitis, after he was rushed to hospital and nearly DIED.
The former reality TV star has been working closely with charities helping people fight the infection after his terrifying experience.
Jack, 26, who rose to fame on the ITV2 dating show's fourth season, was spotted at a charity event for Meningitis Now this week.
He opened up about his battle with the infection as he chatted to young people who have recently recovered.
"I had meningitis in 2019 - it was nasty - a headache, very painful," Jack explained on Instagram. "I thought I had a bad hangover.
“I was lucky, I had a full recovery – but there are some people that didn't and some people have died from it, some people have lost limbs, become deaf and lost their sight and memory.
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"I'm jumping on here to bring more awareness to it, to make sure you know about meningitis."
Jack went on to explain that because it's prevalent in "young people", it's important to know and recognise the signs.
“You're going to university, you're meeting new people, you're going to clubs, you're probably drinking, so a lot of young people think it's just a hangover and it's not," he added.
"They try to go to sleep and they don't wake up. So make sure you read up on meningitis, especially if you're young.”
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Jack was terrifyingly rushed to hospital in 2019 with viral meningitis after "losing his vision" and "severe headaches".
"Unfortunately I was rushed to hospital Tuesday morning with severe headaches and lack of vision," he told his Instagram fans.
"I then had a lumbar puncture that showed I had viral meningitis.
"I was unresponsive for a few days whilst being under morphine and several antibiotics. But now on the road to recovery."
Jack then reassured fans he was back home and "resting up".
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A representative for Jack told MailOnline: "Jack started feeling very unwell, not being able to lift his head, feeling nauseous, so a friend of his rushed him to A&E as his symptoms started to get worse.
"He was treated at the hospital for viral meningitis for three days. He is now home and is slowly recovering."