IN October 2006, a Thornbury woman who bravely beat meningitis used her life-and-death experience to help others detect the killer bug.

Briony Elsbury, 35, of Gloucester Road, teamed up with the Meningitis Research Foundation to raise awareness of the early tell-tale signs of the disease known as red flag symptoms to help save lives.

Symptoms such as cold hands and feet, limb pain and pale or mottled skin were being highlighted to millions of people across the UK as part of Meningitis Awareness Week.

“It is so important to detect the bug as early as possible,” Briony said.

“Meningitis is so swift and deadly and can affect anyone.”

In 1988 Briony escaped death by recognising the symptoms and seeking urgent medical attention.

And following a battle with the disease and a year-long recovery, Briony was grateful to be able to tell her horrifying tale to others.

Briony said: “On just an ordinary day I started feeling very unwell and had a severe headache and badly aching muscles.

“My husband took me home and I asked him to look our for meningitis symptoms.

“Later I fell unconscious and he called the hospital, where it was confirmed I had meningitis.

“If I had gone against my instincts and been left with a few Paracetamol in bed I may not have been here.”

Briony said she now used her experience while working as a volunteer on the Meningitis Research Foundation helpline in Thornbury.

She hoped the awareness week would teach more people how to beat the killer bug.

“If you or someone you know has these early symptoms do not hesitate to go or take them to hospital,” she said.

“Doctors would rather see 20 cases where nothing turns out to be serious than let one be missed. The key is to know the symptoms and act. It could save a life.”

The Meningitis Research Foundation identified the red flag symptoms commonly seen by parents and family doctors after completing a large national study of children who had meningitis.

Meningitis Research Foundation chief executive Denise Vaughan said: “The foundation is delighted to have funded the study.”