Alexander Philogene
Credit: GoFundMe
NEED TO KNOW
Alexander “Zander” Philogene died at 21 after allegedly contracting meningococcal disease while traveling in Europe
Philogene allegedly texted his friends that he began experiencing “dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath,” culminating in a rash, per The Advertiser and 9 News
Philogene’s uncle Chris Jarmer called his nephew “really funny, very smart and witty”
A college student died just hours after experiencing symptoms of Meningococcal B, which is often mistaken for the flu.
Alexander “Zander” Philogene died at 21 after allegedly contracting the dangerous disease when he returned to Vienna, Austria, from Porto, Portugal, where he had traveled, Australian news outlet The Advertiser reports.
The 21-year-old was a senior at an Australian university studying finance and chemical engineering, and was traveling through Europe while studying abroad in Austria.
On April 11, Philogene reportedly texted his friends while boarding the plane back to Austria that he was experiencing “dizziness, headaches and shortness of breath,” culminating in a rash, per The Advertiser and 9 News. The flight was three hours, and his friends encouraged him to seek medical help before he suffered a cardiac arrest at the airport.
He was promptly airlifted to a local hospital via helicopter, per The Advertiser. He was pronounced dead at 2:45 p.m. local time in the Austrian medical facility.
Alexander Philogene
Credit: GoFundMe
Philogene was allegedly vaccinated against the disease, but it’s possible he contracted a newer “aggressive” strain discovered in the U.K. in March, The Advertiser reports, citing medical experts.
A student at the University of Kent died from the illness, a representative for the school previously confirmed to PEOPLE.
Philogene was the nephew of professional chef Chris Jarmer. Jarmer, the owner of Jarmer’s Kitchen, works as the chef for the Adelaide Crows, an Australian football team, and the Australian national swim team.
“I honestly can’t imagine it… you get emotional just thinking about it,” Jarmer told The Advertiser. “He was really funny, very smart and witty. We’re all just devastated. We’ll miss him forever.”
PEOPLE has reached out to a rep for the Crows for comment.
Stock photo of a blood sample for Meningococcal disease test.
Credit: Getty
A family friend started a GoFundMe for Philogene’s family to support his funeral costs.
“Zander was a truly kind and beautiful soul who meant so much to so many,” the GoFundMe description reads. “His loss has left an indescribable void in the lives of all who knew and loved him.”
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“Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection,” per the Cleveland Clinic. “It’s contagious between people, usually from infected spit or mucus.”
Often sharing “many of the same symptoms as a cold or the flu,” the disease is best treated with antibiotics, and vaccines can prevent contracting the disease, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
“Meningococcal disease is serious,” per Cleveland Clinic. “About 10 to 15 out of every 100 people who have meningococcal disease die, even with treatment.”
Complications can include brain damage, kidney damage, loss of limbs, nerve damage, or total hearing loss, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Read the original article on People