Colin Mair: My brush with killer disease

Colin Mair, the UKIP leader on Lincolnshire County Council, was struck down with Sepsis just before Christmas.

Sepsis arises when a body’s response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs.

It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death - especially if not recognised early and treated promptly.

Coun Mair has revealed his kidneys completely failed, but says the ‘excellent’ care from the NHS set him on the road to recovery.

He told the News: “My experience of the NHS was excellent from top to bottom, starting with the Lives volunteer at home, through A&E in Pilgrim Hospital in Boston then to the specialist renal unit in Leicester General Infirmary (my kidneys had failed).

“The follow-up after discharge has been excellent.

“The NHS is under enormous pressure and we are very short of clinical staff at all levels but when you are in trouble they are excellent.”

Globally, millions of people die from Sepsis every year.

It is estimated there are 150,000 cases of Sepsis in the UK every year, leading to 44,000 deaths.

A charity - The UK Sepsis Trust - was set up in 2012 with the aiming of saving 12,500 lives a year.

Coun Mair claims that one of the main problems is that victims of Sepsis are becoming increasingly resistant to the main antibiotic used to treat the condition.

Coun Mair lives in Coningsby and represents the Tattershall Castle ward at County Hall.

He finished runner-up to Victoria Atkins in battle for the Louth and Horncastle parliamentary seat in the 2015 General Election.

Coun Mair said his attention was again turning to politics, including the on-going debate against a new unitary authority for Lincolnshire.

*A full interview with Coun Mair will feature in next week’s Horncastle News.