St Austell Woman to Walk South West Coast Path for Sepsis Awareness

A 24-year-old from St Austell is preparing to take on a 630-mile challenge along the South West Coast Path after surviving a life-threatening illness.

Skye Owen will set off from Minehead in Somerset on 6th April, walking the full route to Poole in Dorset to raise funds and awareness for The UK Sepsis Trust.

📷Skye

A Challenge Inspired by Recovery

Skye, who works as a teaching assistant in a special educational needs school, spent four weeks in hospital in September 2024 after developing sepsis caused by a Staphylococcus aureus infection.

Her first symptom was severe back and hip pain which left her unable to move, prompting an ambulance call. Tests later revealed infection in her hip and sacroiliac joints, alongside dangerously high infection levels that led to a diagnosis of sepsis.

After weeks of treatment in hospital, Skye continued her recovery at home with support from a specialist care team administering intravenous antibiotics. During that time, she had to relearn how to walk.

📷Skye

Walking the South West Coast Path

The route Skye will take stretches 630 miles along England’s south west coastline, covering rugged cliffs and steep headlands. It includes a total elevation gain equivalent to climbing Mount Everest four times.

She plans to walk between 10 and 20 miles a day, depending on terrain and conditions, and expects the journey to take between two and three months.

In preparation, Skye has spent several months training by hiking sections of the coast path during weekends and school holidays.

Friends and family will support her along the route, meeting her every few days in the van she lives in, which she shares with her cat. She also plans to camp where possible, depending on weather and campsite availability.

📷Skye

Raising Awareness of Sepsis

Throughout the walk, Skye will document her journey on social media, sharing photos, videos, walking statistics and stories from people affected by sepsis.

She is also encouraging others, particularly fellow sepsis survivors, to join her for sections of the walk. One survivor is set to accompany her on the first part of the journey.

In the UK, sepsis affects 245,000 people each year and claims 48,000 lives. Five people lose their lives to the condition every hour. It can lead to shock, multiple organ failure and death if not recognised early and treated promptly.

Skye Owen said, “My recovery has been long and challenging, and learning to walk again made me realise just how precious everyday things like walking, hiking and being outdoors really are.

“Surviving sepsis gave me a second chance at life, and this challenge is my way of making that second chance count. If sharing my story and pushing through every mile helps raise awareness and saves even one life through the work of the UK Sepsis Trust, then every step will have been worth it.”

📷Skye

Community Support Along the Way

Community fundraising events are planned along the route, including a coffee and cake morning when Skye reaches Portland and a sponsored run organised by a shop in Newquay.

The UK Sepsis Trust, founded in 2012 by NHS consultant Dr Ron Daniels BEM, works to raise awareness of sepsis, support those affected and improve outcomes for patients.

Dr Ron Daniels BEM said, “We are incredibly moved by Skye’s dedication – her commitment to raising awareness of sepsis is truly inspiring. We extend our heartfelt thanks and acknowledge the incredible challenge she’s undertaking. Skye’s support will allow us to continue our vital work, helping our health service save lives and improve outcomes for the thousands of people affected by this condition every year.”

📷Skye

Spotting the Signs of Sepsis

Sepsis can present differently in each patient, but there are six key symptoms to look out for, which spell the word sepsis:

• Slurred speech or confusion
• Extreme pain in muscles or joints
• Passing no urine in a day
• Severe breathlessness
• “It feels like I’m going to die”
• Skin that is mottled, discoloured or very pale

If any of these signs appear in the context of an infection, people are advised to go straight to A&E.