WHEN Dave Rideout took his daughter to hospital to have her burst appendix out, he never suspected it would be one of their final days together.

And given it was a routine operation, Dave, 52, assumed Chloe was going to be completely safe – and home and healthy in no time.

However, just days later, Dave's life was turned completely upside down.

Chloe contracted deadly sepsis and, despite desperate efforts to save her, she died at just 20-years-old.

Now, a year on from her death, Chloe's heartbroken dad is speaking out to raise awareness for the devastating illness.

The estate agent said: "We didn't know what sepsis was and if we did Chloe would still be alive."

Chloe's family's nightmare begun in October last year when Chloe developed agonising stomach pains.

She was taken to hospital where discovered she had a burst appendix and told her she needed to have it removed urgently.

Despite this, Chloe's family claim it took 50 hours for her to be operated on.

We didn't know what sepsis was and if we did Chloe would still be alive

After the surgery, Chloe, who worked for the Bay Hotel in Coverack, Cornwall, began showing signs of sepsis but doctors brushed them off and discharged her.

The next day, her parents Dave and Sharon, also 52, called an ambulance to rush her to a different hospital.

Medics battled to save her life but days later, on 20 October 2018, she passed away.

Dave said: "My daughter went in hospital for an appendix operation and ended up dying from Sepsis.

"As you can imagine, we are totally heartbroken and struggling to understand why this has happened."

Her death came just days after she had her visa for Australia approved so that she could go travelling.

Chloe's family's lives have never been the same since her death her her dad admits he still struggles to cope every morning.

Writing on his Just Giving page, he said: "I call it the three second wake-up.

"I wake up the next morning, open my eyes and yawn and it takes about three seconds to remember Chloe's gone and my world's been turned upside down".

Dave is now campaigning to raise awareness about sepsis and its symptoms so that no one goes through the same pain that his family did.

He added: "She was lovely and only ever thought of others.

"Please give generously so we can raise money for The Sepsis Trust so no other innocent person dies.

"The Sepsis Trust visits schools, doctors and hospitals to educate and raise awareness of this problem so hopefully another young person doesn't lose their life and another family doesn't have to live the nightmare we are going through".

Symptoms of sepsis to look out for

Sepsis, also referred to as blood poisoning or septicaemia, is a reaction to an infection that causes the body to damage its own organs and tissues.

The body’s immune system goes into overdrive.

It is vital sepsis is spotted as quickly as possible, as if not spotted and treated quickly, it can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death.

Here are the symptoms to look out for:

• Slurred speech which is triggered by a lack of blood supply to brain
• Mottled or discoloured skin can appear anywhere on the body
• Extreme shivering or muscle pain due to a lack of oxygen
• Passing no urine over the course of 24 hours as kidneys fail
• Severe breathlessness when body senses there is not enough oxygen getting to the brain. The illness increases the “drive” to breathe to increase it. May also lead to fast breathing or a fast heartbeat
• A high temperature
• Chronic tiredness
• Change in mental state such as confusion or disorientation
• Swelling of affected area

Chloe's parents and brother Charlie have so far raised over £35,000 in her memory for UK Sepsis Trust.

And they are hosting a charity auction this Sunday in Falmouth in a bid to raise even more money.

Advanced bids are being taken for a range of items, many donated by local businesses, including a Poldark script signed by stars Aidan Turner and Eleanor Tomlinson.

You can donate to Dave’s cause at his Just Giving page here.

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