A Norfolk woman has thanked her lifesavers after a suffering a flare-up of a rare form of meningitis.

Amanda Buckland cannot remember anything from Boxing Day night when she became feverish, started vomiting, and was experiencing severe muscle pain and confusion.

The 35-year-old, who lives near Attleborough, praised Simon Read and Matthew Laws from the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) for their care after her condition rapidly deteriorated.

Amanda has been living with Mollaret’s meningitis – a recurring viral form of the disease – for more than six years.

She was reunited with Simon and Matthew this week (20th February) in Norwich to thank them personally after they immediately recognised the seriousness of her condition and rushed her to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on 26th December.

She said: “I have never had anyone look up the condition to help me and for them to go that extra mile blew my mind away. My mum and friend told me what happened and it is lovely to know that they care about their job and they went that extra mile to help and they kept checking up on me at hospital.

“If I had waited I would not be here today to thank them,” she said.

Amanda said she knew of only of three people in the UK who had been diagnosed with Mollaret’s meningitis, which flares up every couple of months. She receives support from charity Meningitis Now and is a member of an online support group where she speaks to people across the world who have the condition.

Symptoms of meningitis include, fever, cold hands and feet, vomiting, confusion and irritability, severe muscle pain, pale, mottled skin, a dislike of bright lights, severe headache and stiff neck.

If you suspect that someone has meningitis, call 999 immediately.

For more information, visit https://www.meningitisnow.org/