EXCLUSIVE: Made in Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump, 27, has opened up about his terrifying battle with sepsis, revealing he came ‘very close to dying’ as his liver and kidneys failed
Made in Chelsea star Sam Vanderpump, 27, has revealed the harrowing details of his recent battle with sepsis —a life-threatening condition that nearly cost him his life.
In an exclusive interview with OK!, Sam candidly discusses the terrifying experience, while also revealing some exciting news, his road to recovery, and the unwavering support of his girlfriend, now fiance, Alice Yaxley.
“Over Christmas, we went through a bit of an episode together where I got really, really ill,” Sam shares, recalling the sudden onset of his illness. He explains that a genetic condition led to an infection, which rapidly escalated into sepsis. “I got an infection due to a genetic disease I’ve got, which led to sepsis and it ended up quite bad. I was in hospital and it was a close call; I could have died.”
The ordeal began with Sam experiencing severe back pain and dehydration, symptoms he initially dismissed as flu-like. However, his condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to delirium. Recognising the severity, Alice acted swiftly. “By calling the ambulance, my fiancé literally saved my life,” Sam acknowledges.
Doctors later informed him that if he had been admitted just 24 hours later, it might have been too late, as his liver and kidneys had begun to fail.
While Sam has made a physical recovery, the emotional aftermath lingers. “Mentally, it probably is the most challenging thing I’ve gone through,” he admits, revealing ongoing struggles with health anxiety.
“There were signs which can so easily be mistaken for common flu symptoms. So now, every time I get a pain or feel a little lethargic, I think, ‘Oh God, am I getting sepsis?’ rather than, ‘Do I have something completely minor?'”
Alice, 23, reflects on the challenging times post-hospitalisation. “I remember the last time you were in the hospital, you weren’t doing great, were you?” she says, highlighting the mental toll of repeated hospital visits. Sam concurs, noting the paradox of finding comfort in the hospital environment despite its association with his trauma.
“But there is comfort in going back to hospital as you feel safe if something does go wrong,” he explains.
Despite the challenges, Sam remains hopeful. “Time is a healer and the support’s been amazing, so that’s helped,” he says, expressing gratitude for Alice’s unwavering presence.
As he continues his journey towards mental and emotional recovery, Sam is determined to raise awareness about sepsis and the importance of recognising its often-misleading symptoms.
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