Student Who Mistook Sepsis for Hangover Urges Young People to Know the Signs

Elle Black was 21 years old and in her first year at Cardiff University when she woke up after a night out and assumed her sore throat and flu-like symptoms were nothing more than a hangover. Within 24 hours she was in hospital being treated for sepsis — a severe and potentially fatal reaction to infection.

How it happened

In February 2024, Elle came home in the early hours of the morning with a sore throat. She took ibuprofen and went to sleep. The next morning she was exhausted, feverish, and still unwell — symptoms she continued to dismiss. It was only when her condition worsened significantly that she sought medical help. Doctors told her that waiting even another day could have had very different consequences. Elle was suffering from sepsis as a complication of quinsy — a serious infection around the tonsils.

Warning signs of sepsis

Sepsis occurs when the body's immune response to an infection becomes life-threatening. Symptoms can include a high fever or very low temperature, rapid breathing, confusion, and a fast heart rate. The NHS and charities stress that people should seek urgent medical attention if their symptoms are severe, sudden or rapidly getting worse — particularly after an illness like a sore throat or flu. Never assume such symptoms are simply a result of a night out.

Raising awareness

Elle, who graduated in summer 2026 with a degree in journalism, is sharing her story to warn other young people. The charity Sepsis Research backed her message, saying it is essential to "never dismiss symptoms that are severe or getting worse." Her case is a reminder that sepsis can affect people of any age, and that early recognition and treatment are critical for survival.