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Halle O’Brien(Image: Facebook\/Halle O’Brien)<\/p>\nHalle O’Brien will be remembered this Christmas<\/p>\n
05:00, 24 Dec 2025Updated 06:21, 24 Dec 2025<\/p>\n
Halle O’Brien(Image: Facebook\/Halle O’Brien)<\/p>\n
The legacy of a “unique” young woman who died after going on a night out lives on at the university where she studied. Halle O’Brien, 19, was described by her family as \u201cincredibly beautiful, sweet and intelligent”.<\/p>\n
Halle, who was from Litherland<\/a>, was in line for a first class degree at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk<\/a> when she was studying there in 2019. She had aspirations of becoming a teacher. However, Halle fell seriously ill while she was on a night out with her fianc\u00e9 Eddie Rooney in January 2019 and soon after her mum Heather O\u2019Brien spoke to a paramedic who revealed the worrying news.<\/p>\n Speaking a year after Halle’s death<\/a>, Heather said: “I had a call from Halle\u2019s phone, but it was the paramedic to tell me to get to the hospital as quickly as I could.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the time we arrived Halle was so poorly and was being worked on by doctors giving her CPR. We went up to the intensive care unit and Halle was rigged up to all sorts of machines.\u201d<\/p>\n It transpired that Halle had been infected with group A streptococcal septicaemia, a life-threatening blood infection. The blood infection caused Halle to contract meningitis, even though she had been given the meningococcal vaccine.<\/p>\n She had two heart attacks and never regained consciousness at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. She died on January 27, 2019 after her life-support machine was switched off.<\/p>\n Heather said: “For 12 hours we sat around the bed with her and we had to make the decision to turn the machines off as she wasn\u2019t responding to anything that the hospital tried.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have all been left heartbroken and life will never be the same for us. We try to carry her with us on our journey, trying to do things as a family and remember her while also raising vital funds for the charities that have helped us.”<\/p>\n A family tribute to Halle added: “Halle had achieved everything she had set out to at her young age so far. She was getting firsts on her university course, making her family proud and was in a loving relationship.<\/p>\n “Halle was a true enigma, a gem. To be remembered for the incredible impact she had upon everybody she was in contact with and she set an incredible example of how to be a young woman. She was a rare combination of beauty and brains, however humble to it all. Halle was unique.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite this tragedy, Halle\u2019s name will be remembered on Edge Hill campus over this Christmas period via a touching gesture.<\/p>\n For the fifth consecutive year, the Halle O\u2019Brien CIC has donated to Edge Hill University\u2019s Care Experienced and Estranged Students (CEES), hoping to bring a touch of Christmas cheer at what can be a difficult time.<\/p>\n A total of 120 students spending the festive period on campus have received gift hampers filled with seasonal treats, delivered in loving memory of Halle.<\/p>\n Her family established the Halle O\u2019Brien CIC in 2020, aiming to improve children and young people\u2019s academic and social development by supporting families with the cost of extracurricular activities.<\/p>\n Speaking about the CIC\u2019s presence on campus this year, Heather said: \u201cCollaborating with Edge Hill University to support students who may not experience a traditional Christmas is a mission we know Halle would have championed with all her heart.<\/p>\n \u201cEvery year, we take immense pride in hand-selecting each gift to ensure they are meaningful and high-quality. From festive treats to winter essentials, we pack these hampers with items designed to make students feel truly cosy and cared for, selecting things we would love to receive ourselves.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is our way of ensuring that every student feels part of a wider family during the holidays.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the recipients, Taylor Davies, said: \u201cIt was lovely to receive the hamper again this year, it\u2019s really made my Christmas better.<\/p>\n \u201cTo me, Christmas is a time to relax and recharge my batteries after a busy year, and the hamper made me smile so much. It is such a lovely sentiment.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hampers were full of thoughtful gifts like chocolate, toiletries and games that can be shared with flatmates.<\/p>\n \u201cSince leaving care, I\u2019ve found the quality of support from authorities can vary, so Edge Hill and Halle O\u2019Brien CIC\u2019s dedication to supporting people with experiences like mine is just brilliant.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hampers are such a personal gift really helping to improve the holiday period for students who may be on campus or unable to be with their families. Thank you so much.\u201d<\/p>\n Student support officer Joanna Ellmore added: \u201cSeeing students receive their hampers is truly a highlight of our year. As the team provides dedicated, on-course support, we see first-hand the meaningful impact these gifts have on our students\u2019 wellbeing.<\/p>\n \u201cThey always notice the incredible care and attention to detail that goes into selecting and packing every item.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are so grateful to the family and the Halle O\u2019Brien CIC, it is a privilege to play a part in such a wonderful initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n If you have experience of care or are estranged from family and are considering applying to Edge Hill, you can visit the Widening Access and Student Success Team webpages.<\/a><\/p>\n