A Paralympian born in Totton has joined calls for young people to get protected against meningitis after the infection took his legs and fingers.

Gold medal-winning Paralympian, Aaron Phipps MBE, lost his limbs due to the debilitating disease aged 15.

The wheelchair rugby player is now joining the NHS in calling on people to get their children vaccinated against the infection and not to think “it will never happen to you or your child.”

Phipps had both of his legs and most of his fingers amputated due to blood poisoning from meningitis.

Since then, he has gone on to win a gold medal with the GB team in wheelchair rugby at the Tokyo Paralympics, has scaled Kilimanjaro on his hands and knees for charity, and has been voted in the top 100 most influential people in the UK with a disability.

Backing the NHS call, Aaron said: “Only hours after I noticed my symptoms of meningitis, I collapsed and had to be put on life support and into a controlled coma for two weeks.

“After my amputations I had to spend a year in hospital to continue receiving treatment and recovering.

“Vaccines are a victim of their own success, as thanks to the vaccines against meningitis being rolled out so successfully, it's much rarer to hear or see people like me and you think it will never happen to you or your child.

“You cannot underestimate the importance of getting protected against meningitis – so don’t put it off, get a vaccine appointment booked for you or your family today.”

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The call from Aaron and the NHS to get protected against the illness comes ahead of an expected surge in cases that typically follow the start of the academic year.

NHS data shows as of 2023-24, more than one in ten children had not received all the recommended Men B vaccinations by two years of age.

Dr Tom Nutt, chief executive of Meningitis Now, said: “The current statistics are concerning, as this devastating disease can strike suddenly and with severe consequences, leaving survivors with often life-changing disabilities or, tragically, leading to loss of life.

“We applaud Paralympian Aaron Phipps MBE for sharing his powerful story and for using his platform to raise awareness of the importance of vaccination."