What seemed like a simple case of “freshers’ flu” turned into a heartbreaking tragedy for 21-year-old Lucas Martin. The recent University of Liverpool graduate fell ill with mild flu-like symptoms — but within days, he was gone.

Lucas’s family thought he was recovering from a seasonal virus common among students. “He just seemed tired and under the weather,” said his brother, Connor. “We thought it was nothing serious — just a bad flu.” But behind the mild symptoms was meningitis, a fast-moving infection that causes inflammation around the brain.

Lucas had no rash or light sensitivity, making it almost impossible to spot. His condition suddenly worsened, and he was rushed to the hospital and placed in a coma. Sadly, he never woke up. “He was a force of nature — bright, driven, and kind,” his brother said.

Connor now urges others not to ignore warning signs. “If you’re worried, take action,” he warned. “We never imagined it was something so serious.” Lucas’s story is a powerful reminder — sometimes, what seems small can be life-threatening.