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Sepsis Survivor Walks 630 Miles for Awareness
5 Apr
Summary
- Sepsis survivor Skye Owen is walking 630 miles for awareness.
- She relearned to walk after a life-threatening sepsis diagnosis.
- Owen aims to raise funds and awareness for the UK Sepsis Trust.
Skye Owen, a 24-year-old teaching assistant from St Austell, Cornwall, has begun a remarkable 630-mile walk along the South West Coast Path. This ambitious challenge follows her recovery from a life-threatening case of sepsis, which she contracted in September 2024. The illness, caused by a staphylococcus aureus infection, led to severe hip and sacroiliac joint pain, hospitalization for four weeks, and a difficult period of relearning to walk.
Owen's trek from Minehead, Somerset, to Poole, Dorset, is driven by her desire to raise awareness and funds for the UK Sepsis Trust. She aims to cover 10 to 20 miles daily, expecting the journey to take two to three months. Her personal experience with sepsis, which is a life-threatening reaction to infection where the immune system damages the body's own tissues, fuels her commitment. Owen hopes to inspire others and emphasize the importance of early recognition and prompt treatment of sepsis, noting that five people in the UK die from it every hour.
The UK Sepsis Trust reports that nearly 80,000 people in the UK suffer life-changing after-effects annually. A significant 82% of survivors experience 'post-sepsis syndrome' long after discharge, and 18% are left permanently unable to work. The charity highlights six key symptoms to watch for: slurred speech/confusion, extreme pain, no urine output in a day, severe breathlessness, feeling like one is dying, and mottled skin. Dr. Ron Daniels BEM of the UK Sepsis Trust praised Skye's inspiring dedication to raising awareness.
