'My daughter would be dead if her pals had missed first scary symptom on her hand'

A sporty student has had her world turned upside down after having all four of her limbs amputated after being diagnosed with following "flu-like symptoms". Lily McGarry, 23, was studying at Cardiff University when she was rushed to hospital on January 14 after feeling unwell.

Within hours, . Medics at University Hospital Wales diagnosed the "kind, thoughtful, active and positive" student with life-threatening meningococcal septicaemia, which is an aggressive bacterial infection that can cause rapid organ failure and death if not treated immediately.

Lily, from Jersey, had run a 10km just the day before she was rushed to hospital. Lily's mother Jo Gorrod, who was away in when her daughter fell ill, said she didn't think her daughter would have survived without her housemates.

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Speaking to the , Jo said: "Lily was incredibly fortunate her two housemates were both also medical students. They were just so aware, kept on top of everything and took her to A&E.

"If they hadn't got there in the time they did then Lily really wouldn't be here today. We were very lucky."

One of her housemates noticed a rash on Lily's hand that can be one of the first warning signs of . When Lily woke up from the coma, she was heartbreakingly told by doctors that the infection had caused irreversible damage to all four of her limbs.

Surgeons had to amputate both of Lily's legs above the knee and her arms at the elbow in order to save her life. Jo added: "Lily is still in intensive care but she is still the articulate, funny and intelligent person she has always been. We want to get her back to living as full an independent life as possible. She's a young woman and she has her full life ahead of her. You want her not to only be able to participate in sport, but have a career."

Lily's mum Jo Gorrod and friend Tanya set up a GoFundMe to support Lily's recovery. It has raised a remarkable £44,000 so far.

The family are hoping to use the funds to help with specialist prosthetics for Lily when the time comes. The student had hopes of one day becoming a doctor and was in her third year at university.

"She still has a huge amount of rehabilitation to do just to get back to having some sort of core strength enough strength to get from a bed into a chair," Jo said. "I mean that that would be a big step forward, and she's not there yet. You have to be strong enough to use prosthetics. So there's a very, very long road ahead."

Jo also wants to raise awareness of the devastation meningitis can cause. She explained that many people born before 2014 have not been fully vaccinated against the deadly B strain of the infection.

Jo and Tanya wrote on her fundraising page: "Before her illness, Lily was an avid swimmer, runner, and surfer, and these sports are essential to her well-being and happiness. The advanced prosthetics available through private companies will give her the mobility and independence to return to these activities.

"This will not only aid her physical recovery but also allow her to reconnect with the passions that have always brought her joy. Funds raised here will go directly towards prosthetics, adaptations to living environment, as well as the physiotherapy and rehabilitation necessary for Lily's recovery.

"Any funds not directly used for Lily's care will be donated to Limb Power, a charity that supports amputees and individuals with limb impairments through physical activity, sport, and the arts to enhance their quality of life and aid in lifelong rehabilitation."

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