Concerned manager saves colleague with meningitis

James Heather (left) became concerned when colleague Eddie Butler (right) did not answer his door for a lift

A Kent hospital manager has described how fate and intuition helped him save the life of a co-worker who fell seriously ill home alone with meningitis.

Eddie Butler, who works as a waste operative at Medway Maritime Hospital in Gillingham, had asked his manager James Heather for a lift in to work as one of his car windows had been smashed.

Mr Heather became concerned when there was no answer at his Rainham home and alerted Mr Butler's partner who found him in bed "unresponsive".

Mr Butler said he was "extremely grateful" to his colleague for going "above and beyond".

He said: "James is a very caring person and manager."

Mr Heather said: "Something just didn't feel right.

"Eddie is extremely hard-working and even if he isn't feeling well he always lets me know as quickly as he can."

Mr Butler was taken by ambulance to Medway Maritime Hospital where tests revealed he had meningitis.

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord and can be very serious if not treated quickly.

Mr Butler has gone on to make a full recovery, returning to work four weeks after he was found severely unwell.

Mr Heather added: "I know my staff inside and out and I just knew something was wrong.

"It's my job to make sure my staff are as safe as possible so I'm glad I trusted my instincts and went to check on Eddie."