A Newport teenager almost died when a popped spot turned into sepsis

Geraint Mullins, 17, was about to watch TV when he noticed a spot on his neck a few months ago.

He then popped it, like he "would normally do with any other spot".

"I was downstairs in my house in Constable Drive when I saw it," he said.

"I was home because I had been ill with something else at the time.

"I popped the spot and I did not think anything else about it until the following day."

In less than 24 hours, the St Julians School pupil's spot had turned into an abscess and his neck became badly swollen.

"Weirdly it had become much bigger," he said.

"I then went to the doctors four days later.

"The doctor noticed my heart rate was very quick and I was quite confused. These were signs of sepsis.

"The doctor said I had sepsis from the abscess."

The 17-year-old was then rushed to the Royal Gwent Hospital, where he underwent two rounds of surgery in a desperate bid to drain the abscess.

He said: "I was in hospital for three weeks because of my surgery.

"The surgery was to get rid of the sepsis quickly.

"I think one of the worst things is I did not know what sepsis was. I had never heard of it before.

"I had no idea that popping a spot could have caused it.

"I am lucky to be alive because sepsis kills thousands of people every year."

The sixth former is now urging people to research sepsis and learn more about it.

"My message is for people to go to the doctor more often and learn about sepsis," he said.

"Lots of people have never heard of it, but we all need to. Any of us could end up with it.

"Luckily, for me, it was found in time and I was treated. It could have been completely different."

Mum Katy Clabon added: "It was a very difficult time for the whole family.

"We could have lost him."

Sepsis, also known as blood poisoning, is the immune system’s overreaction to an infection or injury. Sometimes immune systems attacks someone's own body organs and tissues. If not treated, sepsis can result in organ failure and death.