A university student who thought he had a simple tummy bug died just hours later from a rare form of meningitis.

Graham Ward was just 20-years-old when he fell ill with what he and his family at first thought was a tummy bug.

The Bath Spa University student from Tilehurst, Reading, grew steadily worse, and went to A&E, where he started suffering a “massive headache”.

Despite being given antibiotics, just hours after being admitted to Royal United Hospital in Bath, the final year business management student, had died from rare group B meningococcal meningitis .

Graham's devastated father John said: "Words can't express how devastating, watching our healthy son fade away within hours of admitting himself to hospital.

Graham Ward was just 20 when he died

“The only symptoms Graham had was being sick and when he arrived at A&E, he started to get a massive headache. 

“We all thought meningitis was something we knew about and that the vaccinations students get at university meant he wouldn’t get it.

“But the vaccinations don’t cover all strains.”

Mr Ward, 55, described his son as “the kindest soul” who had “a personality and smile (which) lit up the room”.

“There isn't a moment that goes by when we don't think about Graham,” he said.

“We miss his lovely chats, silly jokes, gorgeous face and his infectious laughter. Our hearts are broken and life will never been the same without Graham.”

Describing Graham, who had an older brother and sister, Mr Ward said: “He treated people with respect and was a true gentleman.

Graham was known as 'The Smiler'

“Lots of people called him 'The Smiler' as he was very happy, loved laughing and was content with life. He was a hard worker and when he wasn't studying for university coursework, he did labouring jobs for his grand parent.”

Mr Ward said he wants to warn people about signs and symptoms of the strain of meningitis which students aren't usually vaccinated against.

He said his son started feeling poorly on the evening of Thursday, November 8, 2019. 

He said: “He started to feel a bit sick and he thought he had a tummy bug.

“After having 12 hours sleep, Graham said on Friday morning, that he felt slightly better. However he was sick again after having soup, so we told him to sip water. But he was sick again drinking water.”

According to the NHS, sings and symptoms of meningitis can appear in any order, and in the early stages there may not be a rash, or the rash might fade under pressure.

Medical advice is not to wait until a rash develops and to trust your instincts and seek medical help immediately if you are concerned.

Mr Ward said eventually Graham’s girlfriend grew so worried about him she wanted to take him to hospital.

His family wants to warn others of the symptoms

He said: “As Graham was sick seven times, at 5pm Graham’s girlfriend wanted to take him to hospital, as she was concerned about him. 

“On arrival at A&E in Royal United Hospital Bath, he started to have a massive headache. The triage nurse just thought that Graham, being a student just had a bug, but he was seen by a doctor and at 8.30pm was given some antibiotics for a viral infection.”

Mr Ward said just a few hours later, Graham had died.

“These antibiotics didn’t have time to work,” he said.  “

A few hours later, Graham passed away.”

Speaking shortly after his death, a university spokesman told the BBC: “Everyone is deeply saddened by the sudden death of Graham Ward from group B meningococcal meningitis.

"Graham was in his final year of a business and management degree and had a bright future ahead of him.

"Our heartfelt sympathy and sincere condolences are with Graham's loved ones. This is a terribly sad time for everyone who knew Graham and for the university as a whole."