Lowood man Dylan Clark ‘disabled for life’ with horror brain infection

A much-loved larrikin from Lowood has been left permanently disabled from a new strain of meningococcal that left him vomiting and immobile within a matter of days.

Life for fun-loving Lowood “larrikin” Dylan Clark will never again be the same after he contracted a rare and “very serious” infection.

The 24-year-old attended the 2022 CMC Rocks event at Willowbank in Ipswich last month, and fell ill soon after. The symptoms worsened over the following weeks and he was eventually told he had contracted bacterial meningitis.

His dad Paul Clark accompanied him to the festival, along with his mum and several of his nine siblings, and said he began showing symptoms — including vomiting and immobility — from the third day.

His condition worsened over the weeks that followed, reaching a climax on Wednesday, October 19 when he called his mum and dad to ask a number of “really silly questions”.

“We thought, ‘something’s not right here’,” Paul said.

Dylan’s mum drove to his house, where she found him an “absolute mess”, incoherent, and unable to stand.

Eden Holliday (left) and Dylan Clark (right) at the 2022 CMC Rocks festival.

The Clarks called triple-zero and an ambulance arrived to take Dylan to Ipswich Hospital. Paul said an emergency medical technician knew immediately what was wrong, stating plainly: “He’s got a brain infection”.

The hospital ran CT scans and an MRI and discovered a build-up of fluid in Dylan’s brain. He was moved to the Princess Alexandra Hospital that night to undergo brain surgery.

“It sort of went downhill from there,” Paul said.

Though the surgery was a success, Dylan suffered a stroke while recovering in an intensive care unit.

“The doctors then told us he wasn’t in a very good state (and) to prepare for the (worst),” Dylan’s sister Ashliegh Clark said.

“Dylan’s right side of his brain has died where he will now be permanently disabled for the rest of his life.”

Dylan was rushed to hospital on Wednesday, October 19 and underwent brain surgery. Picture: Supplied

Doctors told the Clarks Dylan had contracted a “very rare” and “new strain” of meningococcal disease called bacterial meningitis.

“Obviously we were praying to god,” Paul said.

“We had all our family up there to say hello, or goodbye.”

Dylan’s family returned home to the Lockyer Valley Friday night, devastated and in shock.

But, miraculously, Dylan began showing signs of improvement by Saturday and even managed to make a thumbs-up gesture to nurses at the hospital.

By Sunday, he was able to speak to his family. And what he said blew Paul away.

“I saw Grandpa,” Dylan told Paul.

“He told me to get up.”

Dylan’s grandpa died 18 years ago.

Dylan Clark, 24. Picture: GoFundMe

The popular young man, who “loves a beer, doesn’t get angry,” and “always has a laugh”, is expected to remain in hospital for the next two to three months.

He has now been moved from Princess Alexandra’s intensive care units to the wards and will soon begin physiotherapy treatment.

The left side of Dylan’s body is not functioning as it once did — his left arm is not responding and the left side of his face is drooping, as sometimes happens when a person suffers a stroke — and both his speech and short term memory is impaired.

But Paul said to come out the other side of this disease like he has is an “absolute miracle”.

“I’ve got my son back,” he said.

“I don’t care about anything else.”

He said he could not thank the staff at the Princess Alexandra Hospital enough for the role they played, and continue to play, in his son’s recovery.

A widely-loved “larrikin”, Dylan Clark is supported by his mum Michelle (pictured), his dad Paul, his nine siblings, and a large group of friends and family members. Picture: Supplied

While it cannot be known with absolute certainty where Dylan contracted the disease, Paul said he had not been anywhere except the festival in the week before he fell ill so he “put it down to CMC”.

Bacterial meningitis is caused by a bacteria in the throat or nose and can spread through coughing or sneezing, usually during prolonged close contact.

AMA Queensland Vice President Dr Nick Yim said those who contracted it were “very unwell”.

“Symptoms include headache, a fever, or a stiff neck,” he said.

“They may vomit or become drowsy or confused. Bright lights might hurt their eyes.

“It’s hard to say whether this man caught it at a festival. But it’s another good reason to wear a mask if you can’t socially distance and stay home if you’re sick.”

He said anyone experiencing such symptoms should seek medical attention urgently as they may need to be hospitalised and have intravenous antibiotics.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to help the Clarks purchase a new bed for Dylan, as well as other items essential to his recovery. To donate, click here.

All additional proceeds will be donated to bacterial meningitis and brain injury research projects.

The West Moreton Health Public Health Unit confirmed it was notified of a case of meningococcal on Friday, October 21 but could not say where the disease was contracted.

CMC Rocks’ media team was contacted for comment but did not respond.