Meningitis robbed Bath student of her twin sister

Twin sisters Inara and Sefia, while not identical, were often asked whether they were

For Inara Merali it was like "losing a part of herself", when her twin sister died from meningitis two days after being diagnosed with the infection.

Inara and her sister Sefia were just 19 in November 2022 and shared a "super close bond".

Now the 21-year-old psychology student from Bath has marked the milestone birthday, her sister never had the chance to celebrate, by running a half marathon in Sefia's memory.

She said: "It's like losing a part of you, that's the only way I can describe it."

Meningitis, an infection in the protective membranes surrounding the brain, can be deadly if not treated in time.

According to the charity Meningitis Now, there is "no definitive source" to provide accurate meningitis statistics in the UK.

Inara remembered Sefia being "under the weather" shortly before she became fatally ill.

"She just hadn't been well over the weekend, so my mum went to go pick her up from uni.

"She was having seizures in the car and Mum went to hospital when they got back to London."

Inara and Sefia had been excited about developing their own circles at different universities

Inara realised it was serious when Sefia was rushed to hospital on the Sunday evening.

"I went home on the Monday morning because I got that call quite late in the evening.

"I think from the moment they admitted her, they knew it was serious."

By Tuesday, Sefia was put on a ventilator and the family received the terrible news she was brain dead.

The machine was turned off on 8 November 2022.

The pair had always been close but chose to move away to different universities in Bath and Brighton.

"I think we were both quite excited for having our own circles," Inara said.

She described Sefia as "adventurous" and "super brave".

Inara said she imagines her sister still enjoying wildlife as she always had been adventurous

"She hadn't particularly decided what career she wanted to go into, but we would like to imagine her in the wildlife somewhere.

"She was really adventurous as a child and would always be running about or climbing up a tree.

"She was super brave, but she valued her quiet time as well, her time for herself."

What are the symptoms of meningitis?

• high fever

• headache

• vomiting

• stiff neck

• dislike of bright lights

• drowsiness

• seizures

Inara recalls pushing herself into activities when she returned to university, as a way of coping with the loss.

"Initially, after everything had happened, I was like 'oh, I need to do something', but I wasn't really ready to actually pursue or commit to anything."

It was only when she spotted some information about the London Landmarks half marathon on the Meningitis Now website, she was prepared to sign up as a fitting way to celebrate her twin's life.

on 7 April she ran the race, which takes in London's top sightseeing destinations, and raised £7,000 for the charity.

"I really enjoyed it because I ran with one of my close family friends, who I roped into doing it with me, and it was really fun.

"All my family and friends were there and I was looking forward to seeing all the Meningitis Now team at mile nine."

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