HE HAS suffered the heartbreak of losing his daughter to a deadly condition - but now grieving dad Grant Alborough is doing all he can to prevent others from going through the same anguish.

As part of Meningitis Awareness Week, which ran until Sunday, September 24, Mr Alborough worked with the Meningitis Research Foundation to help raise awareness of the early symptoms of the disease which claimed the life of his 17-year-old daughter Hannah in June last year.

The teenager was studying hairdressing at BCOT and was an apprentice at Edward James Cutting Rooms, in Winchester Street, Basingstoke.

Mr Alborough, 42, said: "Hannah was just your typical 17-year-old who loved partying and going out with her friends.

"There was nothing wrong with her before she became ill, and then the condition developed so fast it was unbelievable.

"I was working in Brighton, and, by the time I got to her, she was on a life-support machine. In the end, the doctors couldn't save her."

Mr Alborough said his daughter was first taken to hospital complaining of a headache and neck ache. But she was sent home because the early symptoms of meningitis were not recognised by doctors. Sadly, by the time she was admitted to hospital, it was too late and the doctors could do little to help.

Mr Alborough, a telecommunications engineer, said: "The hospital staff thought it could be a virus but it wasn't and then it was too late."

Meningitis factfile

  • Each year in the UK there are more than 3,000 cases of meningitis and septicaemia resulting in some 300 deaths
  • Although there are vaccines which provide protection against some forms of the diseases, they cannot prevent them all. Awareness is the key to ensuring a rapid diagnosis and treatment
  • Meningitis and septicaemia are the most common infectious causes of death of children in the UK

Symptoms of meningitis can include:

  • Severe headache, stiff neck, dislike of bright lights, fever or vomiting, drowsiness, a rash that does not fade when pressed, seizures or fits

Red flag symptoms include:

  • Cold hands and feet
  • Limb pain
  • Pale or mottled skin

Early symptoms of the disease include cold hands and feet, limb pain and pale or mottled skin. These can typically occur five to eight hours before more widely-known symptoms, such as a rash, neck stiffness and impaired consciousness.

Recognition of these early-warning signs could prove a vital "red flag" that life-saving treatment needs to be given.

Mr Alborough said: "The big thing people recognise as a symptom of meningitis is the rash but Hannah never got it. The earlier symptoms are more difficult to detect, but doing so could save lives."

Since losing his daughter, Mr Alborough, of Packenham Road, Basingstoke, has been fundraising for the Meningitis Research Foundation. He has recently raised £17,000 by taking part in a London-to-Paris cycle ride and is hoping to trek the Himalayas next year.

Mr Alborough said: "I feel like I want to do something each year to raise money and awareness."

Denise Vaughan, chief executive of the Meningitis Research Foundation, said: "Early diagnosis is crucial. This disease can progress so fast that, within a few short hours, a previously healthy child or adult could be in intensive care, fighting for their life.

"We are extremely grateful to Grant for working with us to raise awareness and money in the Basingstoke area."

For more information about meningitis and septicaemia, call the Meningitis Research Foundation's 24-hour helpline on 080 8800 3344. You can donate to the Meningitis Trust via Mr Alborough's website www.justgiving.com/alborough