Brave Callum is back from the dead - and back to college

Callum attended the first lessons on his media studies diploma course on Monday since the potentially fatal illness struck.

He resumed his regular train journeys to Chichester College with some friends just ten weeks after doctors warned his worried parents he could have only 30 minutes to live.

Callum (16) said: "It was really good to be back at college. It felt a bit strange after such a long time away but it was like getting back to normal '“ and it was good.

"My friends were really pleased to see me and pleased that I was back at college. I am fully recovered apart from not being able to straighten my right arm."

Callum joined his classmates in giving a Powerpoint presentation and speech about setting up a radio station.

His tutors e-mailed him some work during his absence to make sure he did not fall too far behind.

He had been on the course for only six weeks when he became ill with the meningococcal B strain of the virus for which no vaccine exists.

He had been out with his sister looking around the shops in Bognor town centre at the start of half-term late last October when he developed a severe headache. The pain persisted in spite of taking some tablets.

He became cold and had a bath to warm himself up. He decided against going out to celebrate his father, Ray's birthday, and went to bed.

During the night, he kept vomiting and asking for two pints of water at a time to quench his thirst. His worried mum, Alison, kept a close watch on him and noticed he had become like a rag doll.

He was aching all over by 4am the next day and she saw a vivid purple rash had rapidly developed across his face from where his headache had been to his nose.

She suspected meningitis and dialled 999. The paramedics were soon at the family's semi-detached house in Southdown Road.

They pumped antibiotics into Callum before a seven- minute journey to St Richard's Hospital at Chichester.

He had 24 medical staff working to stabliise him at one time as the rash spread over his entire body.

Doctors warned his parents he might not survive for much longer. From there, Callum was transferred to Southampton General Hospital. He was expected to be a patient for six to eight weeks.

But his speedy recovery saw him in the paediatric intensive care unit for six nights followed by a further three on a general ward. Callum went back to St Richard's for a further five nights until he was discharged on November 5.

He was given daily physiotherapy sessions at first with visits by a nurse every other day. These have dwindled as Callum has become stronger to just weekly visits to the physios at Bognor Regis War Memorial Hospital.

Callum has also begun skateboarding again along Bognor seafront and restarted swimming in the past two weeks to build up his strength and get his right arm working fully again.

Being left-handed means his college studies are only slightly affected by the difficulty.

His 17th birthday on February 16 is being used by his family as a fundraising celebration.

They have arranged a private party for some 400 guests. The intention is to raise about 4,000 to help the Meningitis Research Foundation charity and Southampton General Hospital's paediatric intensive care unit.

Mr Wingate (46) said: "It will celebrate the fact that Callum is still with us and that we have got over his illness as well as raising awareness of how quickly meningitis can develop."