Teen dies of meningitis after showing no symptoms

By Ed Chatterton

A mom has spoke of her heartbreak following her teenage son's death from meningitis and warned how he had displayed no symptoms other than feeling cold.

Jack Bolam, 19, had complained of being chilly before he went to work and 48 hours later he tragically died after contracting meningitis B.

His mom Joanne, 49, is now warning other parents be vigilant and react quickly if they notice symptoms following the recent outbreak of the infection in Kent.

She said Jack had displayed no symptoms until he came home early from his shift at a retail store after feeling sick and dizzy.

He was rushed to Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle-upon-Tyne after he began vomiting and having seizures and was placed into an induced coma.

Less than 48 hours later, his devastated family were told there was no activity in his brain and his life support machine was switched off on February 1 last year.

Support worker Joanne, of Kingston Park, Newcastle, said: "There was no warning, no rash and no symptoms other than him feeling cold.

"He just had a bit of a chill - what you would usually give someone paracetamol for.

“Jack went to work at 5.50pm. He rang his sister at 6.40pm to say he felt dizzy and could she pick him up.

"He was home 10 minutes later and I tucked him up in bed with a cup of tea as he said he was freezing.

“At 8pm he had vomited and his sister was saying ‘get up, mam’s coming up’. Myself and Jack’s dad and sisters went upstairs to see what was wrong.

"I said 'at least if you're finished early you can have your tea early'. He said 'Aye I'm pleased'. That was the last thing he said.

“Jack started convulsing, so we rang 999. He was admitted to the Royal Victoria Infirmary at 9pm.

“At 10pm the consultant suggested I get my husband there straight away. By 11pm Jack was in the Intensive Care Unit.

"The consultant then told us Jack wasn't responding to treatment. Jack was on monitors - there were machines and tubes everywhere. That was Thursday, January 30, 2025.

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“We couldn't get our heads around what was going on. Friday was a complete blur.

"So much information to take in. But we sat holding Jack’s hands, kissing him and talking to him like everything was okay.

“On Saturday 1st February 2025, we were asked to go and sit in whilst doctors did their final checks on our beautiful boy.

"Jack was pronounced dead at 2.05pm whilst his sisters and friends sat in the room across the hall.

“Family and Jack’s closest friends wanted to say goodbye and so on Sunday 2nd February we as a family decided to turn Jack's life support off. That day I will never forget.

“The next three weeks were filled with visitors and Jack’s friends calling in. His best friend arrived from Australia.

"How we got through it I will never know.

“Jack was a strong, healthy young man who was just at the beginning of his life.

"He played rugby three times a week, went to the gym four times a week. How did this happen? He had all his vaccines."

Jack was son to Joanne and Stephen Bolam, 51, and brother to Ellie Bolam, 24, and Libby Bolam, 17.

He worked as a store assistant at Home Bargains and a food team leader at Newcastle FC's St James' Park.

Joanne says her world was "totally destroyed" by her son's death.

She added: “How we live now is completely different. People say it will get easier but it doesn't.

"We miss our son and brother immensely and the Jack-sized hole in our hearts will never repair."

"Our whole world has been totally devastated and we're broken by this awful disease.

“All Jack’s vaccinations were up to date and I don't understand why all bacterial meningitis isn't covered by vaccines.

"I just want other parents to be aware even if there's no obvious symptoms at first.

"You know your child and if something isn't right."