Brothers Who Both Contracted Meningitis Within a Year Urge Young People to Learn the Symptoms

Two brothers from Wrexham who fell ill with meningitis just twelve months apart have spoken of their narrow escapes, saying they feel fortunate simply to be alive. Saul and Drew Darlington, now aged 29 and 26, were teenagers when they contracted the infection, and they initially dismissed it as a strange coincidence that both of them had been struck down. It was only later that medical tests revealed the real explanation: the pair share a rare inherited immune condition that leaves them unusually vulnerable to serious infections.

Saul was the first to become ill, at the age of 17, while he was away on a school trip. He began feeling cold and found that bright light hurt his eyes, symptoms that many people might mistake for a common bug. The situation changed dramatically when a purple rash appeared on his skin, prompting his family to take him straight to accident and emergency. Reflecting on how rapidly his condition deteriorated, Saul said that if he had gone to sleep that night, he probably would have died.

He recalled that the word meningitis, spoken by his mother, made clear to him just how frightened she was. Until that point, the illness had been completely unfamiliar to the family, and the whole experience felt alien and deeply unsettling. Saul ended up spending a week in hospital, an ordeal he described as really scary, particularly given how young he was at the time.

Almost exactly a year later, history repeated itself when Drew, then 16, started to feel unwell while revising for his GCSE exams. He developed a high temperature but showed no other obvious signs of illness at first. The situation escalated quickly after a visit to his GP. Drew explained that when he left the house he had no rash at all, but by the time the doctor lifted his top, a large rash had spread across his chest and abdomen. Purple spots had also appeared on the roof of his mouth, a telltale warning sign of the infection.

Drew was admitted to the children's ward at Wrexham Maelor hospital, where he remained for two weeks. For the first 48 hours his condition was touch and go before he gradually began to recover. Even after the immediate danger passed, he lost a significant amount of weight and it took months before he felt fully well again.

Looking back, Saul admitted the double diagnosis seemed bizarre. He questioned what the odds were of two brothers in the same family both catching meningitis within such a short space of time. The answer came through further testing, which identified properdin deficiency in both of them. This rare immunodeficiency affects part of the body's immune response and makes individuals more susceptible to infections such as meningitis.

Both brothers have since recovered and now take daily antibiotics to help protect against future infections. Rather than letting the experience hold them back, they have embraced an active lifestyle, enjoying hiking and running together. Drew completed the London Marathon in 2025 to raise funds for the Meningitis Research Foundation and to shine a light on the illness that nearly claimed both their lives.

They are also planning to take on an Ironman challenge next year in support of meningitis charities, a demanding test of endurance that reflects the determination they have shown since their recovery. Their message, however, is a serious one. Saul warned that many of the symptoms of meningitis can be mistaken for ordinary tiredness or a hangover, when in reality the disease is far more dangerous. Drew stressed the importance of vigilance, noting that there is very little time to act once meningitis takes hold and that every hour counts when it comes to saving a life.

Their appeal comes amid heightened concern about meningitis B in the UK. Nearly 20,000 young people in Wales have received vaccinations through catch-up clinics, a rollout introduced following a deadly outbreak of the infection in Kent earlier this year. The campaign reflects growing recognition that adolescents and young adults are among those most at risk, and that rapid access to vaccination and treatment can make the difference between life and death.

Medical experts note that meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and it can progress with alarming speed. Symptoms may appear suddenly and in any order, and patients do not always experience all of them. Common warning signs in adults include a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, a sudden high fever, a severe and worsening headache, a stiff neck, vomiting and diarrhoea, joint and muscle pain, and a dislike of bright lights.

Other signs can include very cold hands and feet, seizures, confusion or delirium, and extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking. Health bodies including the NHS and the CDC emphasise that the presence of any combination of these symptoms should be treated as a medical emergency. Drew's own experience illustrates the point: it was the doctor's swift decision to call an ambulance upon spotting his rash that may well have saved his life.

The brothers' story highlights how quickly meningitis can escalate and how easily its early stages can be overlooked. For Saul and Drew, the coincidence of two diagnoses in one family led to a diagnosis that now shapes their daily routine, but it has also given them a platform. Through marathon running, planned endurance challenges and public advocacy, they hope to ensure that other young people and their families recognise the warning signs in time to act.

Their advice is simple and urgent. Anyone who notices symptoms should seek medical help immediately rather than waiting to see whether things improve. As Drew put it, there is not much time when dealing with meningitis, and every hour counts.