Two Brothers Who Contracted Meningitis Within a Year Urge Young People to Learn the Warning Signs

Two brothers from Wrexham who fell ill with meningitis just months apart as teenagers have spoken of how close they came to losing their lives, and are now campaigning to make sure others recognise the disease before it is too late.

Saul and Drew Darlington, now aged 29 and 26, initially dismissed the fact that they had both contracted the infection as an odd coincidence. It was only later that medical tests revealed the real explanation: both men have properdin deficiency, a rare immunodeficiency disorder that leaves those affected far more vulnerable to certain infections, including meningitis.

Saul was the first to become unwell, at the age of 17, while away on a school trip. He began to feel unusually cold and found that bright light hurt his eyes. When a purple rash appeared on his skin, his family rushed him to A&E. Reflecting on how quickly his condition deteriorated, Saul said that had he simply gone to sleep that night, he believes he would probably have died.

He described the whole episode as happening "very fast", recalling that the moment his mother used the word meningitis, her face made clear just how serious the situation was. The illness, he said, felt completely alien to the family. Saul ended up spending a week in hospital, an experience he described as genuinely frightening, particularly because of how young he was at the time.

Almost exactly one year later, history repeated itself. Drew, then 16 and in the middle of revising for his GCSEs, started to feel unwell with a high temperature but no other obvious signs of illness. His condition escalated rapidly after a visit to his GP. When he left home there was no rash on his body at all, yet by the time the doctor examined him, a large rash had spread across his chest and stomach, and purple spots had appeared on the roof of his mouth.

Drew was admitted to the children's ward at Wrexham Maelor hospital, where he remained for two weeks. His brother Joel visited regularly during that time. The first 48 hours were particularly critical, and it was touch and go before Drew finally began to show signs of recovery. Even then, he lost a substantial amount of weight and it took months before he felt fully well again.

Looking back, Saul admitted he had found it bizarre that both brothers could contract the same serious illness, wondering aloud what the odds of such a thing happening really were. The family later learned the answer lay in their shared genetics rather than pure chance.

Drew credits the swift action of his GP with saving his life. He said he is deeply thankful that the doctor called an ambulance immediately upon noticing the rash, and that those quick decisions potentially saved both brothers. Both men have since made a full recovery, but they now take daily antibiotics to manage their condition.

The brothers have not let their experience hold them back. They are keen hikers and runners, and Drew completed the London Marathon in 2025 to raise money for the Meningitis Research Foundation and to spread awareness of the disease. Next year the pair are planning to take on an Ironman challenge in support of meningitis charities.

Their central message is one of vigilance. Saul warned that many of the symptoms can easily be mistaken for ordinary tiredness or a hangover, when in reality the illness is far more serious. Drew echoed that sentiment, stressing that there is very little time to act when meningitis strikes and that every single hour counts when it comes to saving a life.

Their appeal comes as health officials in Wales continue efforts to protect young people against meningitis B. Nearly 20,000 young people have now been vaccinated through catch-up clinics, a drive launched in response to a deadly outbreak of the disease in Kent earlier this year. The Kent outbreak highlighted how quickly the infection can spread among young people and how severe its consequences can be.

According to the charity Meningitis Research Foundation, symptoms can appear suddenly and in any order. They include a rash that does not fade when pressed with a glass, a sudden high fever, a severe and worsening headache, a stiff neck, vomiting and diarrhoea, joint and muscle pain, a dislike of bright lights, very cold hands and feet, seizures, confusion or delirium, and extreme sleepiness or difficulty waking.

The NHS and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, whose guidance underpins the charity's information, note that patients do not always display every symptom. That variability is precisely what makes the disease so dangerous, since it can be mistaken for milder conditions until it is already well advanced. Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, and it can progress within hours.

For Saul and Drew, that unpredictability is personal. Both were fit, active teenagers with no reason to suspect they were at heightened risk. Their properdin deficiency diagnosis only emerged after they had already fallen ill, meaning neither had any warning that their immune systems would struggle to fight off the infection.

Their story also serves as a reminder of the role played by families, GPs and hospital staff in recognising the signs early. In both cases, the appearance of a rash was the turning point that prompted urgent medical attention. The brothers are now using their platform as runners and fundraisers to ensure that other young people, and the adults around them, know what to look for.

With vaccination programmes expanding and awareness campaigns continuing, the hope is that fewer families will face the fear the Darlingtons endured. For Saul and Drew, the overriding feeling remains gratitude that both of them are still here to tell their story, and a determination to make sure their experience helps protect others.