Student, 21, dies just days after getting what he thought was ‘fresher’s flu’

Lucas Martin, a recent University of Liverpool international business graduate, became ill in September 2023. His family initially believed he had a bad virus. He had no rash or sensitivity to light—symptoms often associated with meningitis. After five days of worsening illness, his father noticed on September 10 that Lucas was mumbling and struggling to form sentences. He was rushed to hospital, diagnosed with meningitis, and placed in an induced coma. He died on September 12 without regaining consciousness.His brother Connor remembered an entrepreneurial, driven young man: a “force of nature” whose future had barely begun. The family established Looky’s Aid in his memory to support young people, turning their grief toward helping others. They also want people to understand that meningitis can develop without every familiar warning sign. Their message is urgent: do not dismiss worsening symptoms as flu, and seek immediate medical help if meningitis is suspected.