What started as a simple pimple turned into a life-threatening ordeal for Geraint Mullins, who is now speaking out to warn others about the hidden dangers of sepsis.
At just 16 years old, Mullins popped a small pimple on his neck—something countless people do without a second thought. But within days, he developed a painful, golfball-sized abscess and was rushed to the hospital. He ended up spending his 17th birthday undergoing multiple surgeries to fight a severe case of sepsis—a potentially fatal reaction to infection that, according to the World Health Organization, is responsible for one in five deaths globally.
“I enjoy popping pimples—it was just a normal one,” Mullins, now 24, told the BBC. “But within a few days, I had this huge lump on my neck.”
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As his condition worsened, Mullins began feeling unusually tired and disoriented. A visit to his doctor quickly turned into a medical emergency. He was sent to the hospital where surgeons drained the abscess. But the infection wasn’t done. A week later, a second surgery was needed to fight the aggressive spread of sepsis.
“I was very close to potentially not being here,” Mullins said. “If I wasn’t as fit as I was, I might not have made it.”
Sepsis, sometimes called “blood poisoning,” occurs when the body overreacts to an infection, triggering widespread inflammation that can lead to organ failure and death. The Cleveland Clinic classifies it as a medical emergency that often goes undetected until it’s nearly too late.
Mullins still bears a visible scar on his neck—a lasting reminder of just how quickly something so small can become deadly. At the time, he admitted, “I knew absolutely nothing about sepsis.”
Now, he’s on a mission to change that.
He’s using his story to raise awareness of the warning signs of sepsis, which include:
- Slurred speech or confusion
- Extreme shivering or muscle pain
- Severe breathlessness
- Mottled or discolored skin
- A general feeling of being very unwell
The World Health Organization warns that only about half of those diagnosed with sepsis fully recover. Many others face permanent disabilities—or worse.
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, emphasized the need for global awareness in a 2020 statement: “The world must urgently step up efforts to improve data about sepsis so all countries can detect and treat this terrible condition in time.”
Even dermatologists are weighing in. Dr. Sandra Lee—better known as Dr. Pimple Popper—cautioned against squeezing pimples without proper precautions. “If you must pop, make sure the area is sterile, your hands are clean, and use sterile instruments,” she told PEOPLE. “But more importantly, know when to pop—and when to stop.”
As for Mullins, he hopes his terrifying experience will prevent others from learning about sepsis the hard way. “This could have happened to anyone,” he said. “Don’t ignore the signs. And don’t underestimate what a small infection can become.”
