“We'll carry his laughter and kindness with us every single day."
Ben, from Cirencester, had been living in Australia for two years with his wife. They were on their honeymoon in Mexico when he became unwell.
Despite battling bacterial meningitis for 9 days, he sadly passed away. His brothers, Rob and Jon, tell us what happened.
“In January 2026, while on his honeymoon in Mexico celebrating the start of a beautiful new chapter with his wife, Kate - Ben became suddenly and seriously unwell.
“Ben and Kate got married in April 2025. They were just beginning to plan their next chapter to their wonderful life together in Australia. They were looking forward to buying a house and had so many dreams and aspirations for the future.
Severe headache
“Ben had a severe headache and so Kate thought it was wise to take Ben to hospital. This was extremely scary as they were in Mexico on New Years Eve. Ben had a suspected stroke and was kept in hospital for 2 nights. He made a strong recovery and was discharged from hospital 2 days later.
“Ben’s father, Chris, travelled out to see him and they managed to have some quality time together. But Ben’s headaches reappeared and he developed a fever and back pain. He was talkative but in quite a bit of discomfort.
“Kate and Chris decided to take Ben to a different hospital and he was put into an induced coma. Ben was diagnosed with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis and it was made clear to the family that his chances of survival were very low.
Very serious
“Chris and Kate kept the whole family updated but because of the time difference and language barrier, it was very challenging. None of the family knew anything about Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis – but after reading about it, we knew it was very serious.
“Ben fought with every ounce of strength he had, but the damage of this terrible illness was simply too severe. Nine stressful days later - on 9 January 2026 - Ben was taken from us far too soon - at just 34 years old.
“We are all struggling to navigate the shock and heartbreak of losing Ben. He had an incredible zest for life that was truly infectious. Whether he was traveling the world with Kate or simply sharing a laugh with friends and family, he moved through the world with a kind soul and a heart full of love. He was the rare kind of person who never had a bad word to say about anyone.
Loved dearly
“Kate has lost her husband, their love for each other is incredibly special. Chris and Jayne have lost a son they loved dearly. Rob and Jon have lost a brother – Jon is Ben’s twin and best friend. Their bond was special. Many others have lost an Uncle, nephew, a cousin, and a dear friend.
“Ben was the very best of us, and our lives have been shattered by his loss. It’s really hard to get your head around how someone so young can be taken so soon.
“We'll carry his laughter and kindness with us every single day.
“We are so thankful to everyone who has supported us from Meningitis Now. We want to raise as much awareness as possible - so other families don't have to go through what we've been through.”
If you’ve experienced bereavement through meningitis please see the support pages of our website. You are not alone and we can help support you.
