A MUM-of-six has released harrowing photographs of her teenage son ‘at death's door’ to show the true effects of meningitis.

Ben Taylor, 18, was fighting for his life just days after he complained of a sore throat — after he actually contracted bacterial meningitis.

Ben, of Longmead Road, Ryde, was rushed to St Mary's Hospital, Newport, in a critical condition on Saturday evening, March 17.

But his brave mum Rikki, 37, has released the images of her son in hospital to show other families just how quickly the illness can take hold of a healthy person.

She is now trying to raise awareness to the dangers of bacterial meningitis.

Rikki, a full-time-mum, said: “Ben deteriorated so quickly – initially he was complaining he had a sore throat, and then three days later he’s fighting for his life with meningitis.

“I called for an ambulance on Saturday night because Ben was unresponsive, and then hours later he was put into an induced coma.

“I decided to take these photographs to show people that meningitis isn’t always just a rash, and doesn’t just occur in young children.

“He looked dead in these photos, he was in a coma, he was grey and he was hooked up to so many wires that were just keeping him alive.

“I had to share them because it’s the reality behind meningitis, and if these photographs can encourage people to understand the signs and symptoms of the illness it’s worth it.”

Ben initially complained of feeling ill on Wednesday, March 14, when he told his mum he had a sore throat and suspected he might have tonsillitis.

But just days later Ben became unresponsive in his bed and was rushed to hospital and diagnosed with meningitis.

Rikki said: “On Wednesday evening he complained his throat was hurting, so we booked a doctor’s appointment for the next morning.

“At the appointment we were told he was fine, so we went back home and he got a lot of rest, vitamins and fluids.

“But then he started deteriorating and by Saturday night he was in the hospital being hooked up to life support.

“Initially, because he went to the pub the night before, I thought maybe his drink was spiked – but hearing it was meningitis was even more of a shock to me.

“I always thought that having meningitis meant you have a rash, but Ben has proved that wrong.

“On the run up to being hospitalised Ben was vomiting, constantly tired, had a sore throat and felt cold a lot.

“I want as many people as possible to know the symptoms of meningitis, and that it’s not just a rash, so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else’s son.”

Ben remains in hospital but is on the road to recovery.

Rikki told the County Press: "Ben's been on a ward for few days now, he was reviewed today but has to stay in as he has an infection in his spinal fluid.

"He is doing good, some hearing loss but no brain damage, and certainly on the mend."

Rikki has set up a fundraising page to raise money for Ben, so that he has something to look forward to once he leaves hospital.