Harry Redknapp opens up about wife's sepsis scare

Harry Redknapp and Lord Craig Mackinlay have launched a sepsis awareness campaign

Harry Redknapp has revealed that he had "no clue" what sepsis was before his wife got the condition.

The former football manager said it was "very scary" when Sandra was rushed to hospital in 2018 with a serious case of sepsis.

"Luckily, we did [go to hospital]. Otherwise, she could have been in a lot of trouble," he told the BBC.

"It was a big shock."

Redknapp said he had spoken to people who had lost children, husbands and family members to sepsis following his wife's recovery.

"It really is a killer," he added.

'Sepsis is avoidable'

The ex-manager made the comments during the launch of a sepsis awareness campaign.

Redknapp said it would be "fantastic" if he could play a small part in a campaign that saves lives by improving understanding of sepsis.

"I am here to do whatever is needed to help," he said.

Redknapp was joined at the launch by his son and Lord Craig Mackinlay, who had his hands and feet amputated after a battle with the condition.

Craig Mackinlay is known as the "Bionic Lord" due to his prosthetics

The Conservative politician, known as the "Bionic Lord" due to his prosthetics, told the BBC that sepsis was relatively "unknown".

There are 48,000 sepsis-related deaths each year in the UK, according to The UK Sepsis Trust.

"Sepsis is avoidable and treatable," Dr Ron Daniels, chief executive of the Sepsis Trust, said.

"If something doesn't feel right or look right in the context of infection, go to 111 or the GP.

"We must trust our instincts."

Dr Daniels said that when someone as critically ill, there are six symptoms to look for, which spell sepsis.

• S - slurred speech or confusion

• E - extreme pain in the muscles or joints

• P - passing no urine in a day

• S - severe breathlessness

• I - it feels like I'm going to die

• S - skin that's mottled, discoloured or very pale