A politician has revealed how he was placed into an induced coma after being diagnosed with sepsis.

Craig Mackinlay, the MP for South Thanet, revealed this afternoon he was rushed into hospital for the blood poisoning condition.

The 57-year-old said he was admitted with the “potential for sepsis” and put into the coma as he suffered multiple organ failures.

Taking to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Mr Mackinlay told how he had been taken in on September 28.

Following almost a month of treatment so far, the MP praised NHS staff for how they cared for him.

“Treatment has been exemplary by all NHS staff and I can’t thank them enough,” he said.

“I am now on a slow road to recovery with services to constituents maintained by my East Kent and London offices.”

The NHS describes sepsis, also known as septicemia or blood poisoning, as a life-threatening reaction to an infection.

This can happen when the body’s immune system “overreacts” to an infection and begins to cause damage to tissues and organs.

It can be hard to identify the symptoms and “can be like symptoms of other conditions, including flu or a chest infection”, the NHS website says.

In adults they can also include things like acting confused, slurred speech or struggling to make sense as well as difficulty breathing.

In both adults and children signs such as blue, grey, pale or blotchy skin, lips or tongue or a rash which does not fade when rolling a glass over it.

Children and babies may also demonstrate a weak but high-pitched cry unlike their normal cry.

They may also not respond like they normally do or be interested in feeding or normal activities and being more sleepy than usual or difficult to wake.