A heartbroken woman told how her little brother died 36 hours after complaining of a runny nose.
Rhys Leatherbarrow, 28, died unexpectedly after feeling under the weather with a runny nose and a headache.
To cheer him up, sister Kami Leatherbarrow, 31, brought him his favourite meal chicken and chips but returned later to find him collapsed on the floor.
"We’re still waiting for him to come out from behind his bedroom door," she told the Manchester Evening News.
"He would always come out and wind me up.
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"Now you’re looking around thinking 'there’s no noise and there should be’ even down to the middle of the night when I could hear him listening to his Alexa or creeping around."
Unbeknown to his family, Rhys had sepsis which was slowly causing his body to shut down.
Rhys suffered two cardiac arrests and went onto life support (Kami Leatherbarrow)
He passed away in hospital in December (Kami Leatherbarrow)Doctors said he died from multi-organ failure caused by pneumonia and two cardiac arrests.
The young man, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, had autism and was registered blind.
He passed away in hospital on December 23 leaving his family devastated.
Kami can recall the moment she found him in his bedroom.
"I went in and he collapsed on me. I shouted my friend and I literally had to drag him to his bed so I could get him in a safe position," she said.
Rhys was due to attend his adult service programme when he began feeling unwell.
(Kami Leatherbarrow)Kami said: "He got up and was all happy and giggly and told us his plans for the day.
"He was causing mischief and he was healthy, fit and well.
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"There was nothing out of the ordinary. He came home and complained of a headache and sniffly nose.
"We gave him two paracetamols and said he could stay home from adult services which he was happy about.
“The next day, after I gave him some chicken and chips, I saw his bedroom door was open.
"I thought ‘he’s eaten that quick’. I went in and he collapsed on me."
Emergency services were called and Rhys was rushed to hospital. Within the first two hours of his arrival, he suffered two cardiac arrests and was placed onto life support.
Mum Janis, dad John, and Kami were called and asked to make their way to Rhys' bedside.
Tragically, the sepsis was causing his organs to shut down and doctors could do no more than keep him comfortable.
"They took us into the family room and spoke to us and said all his organs were shutting down," Kami said.
"Within six hours, he passed. It was so sudden but so shocking at the same time.
"We weren’t expecting it. We only thought he was going to hospital to get some antibiotics."
"Rhys was a happy, loving young man. He loved being around people and making them laugh – most of all getting his sister into trouble."
Described as cheeky, mischievous and witty, Rhys loved going to the cinema, watching plays at the theatre and was a big fan of Disney.
His family told how he loved Christmas which made the time of his death even more tragic.
"Rhys’ time of year was Christmas so this year we felt like it wasn’t a celebration, Kami added.
"Next year, we’re going to make it a celebration.
“He has a snowman with a countdown to Christmas on it and to this day it says the 23rd.
"It’s not getting changed because he changed it himself that day and we’re going to keep it at that all year round because it’s a bit of Rhys.
“He touched a big part of everyone’s lives. I couldn’t fault the hospital at all; they accepted all of his needs and understood everything. He got every bit of care he could have.
“It was a very sudden and quick loss. From falling ill to passing, it was less than 36 hours. We are literally in a daze.”
Rhys’ funeral was held at St. Thomas Church in Golborne on January 11.
A Gofundme page has been set up to raise money towards the funeral costs.
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