Thomas Snell remembered as NTRU and Swampdogs rugby host T for Thomas round to raise awareness around sepsis

SWAMPDOGS will host the ‘T for Thomas’ round in Darwin rugby on Friday and Saturday to remember Thomas Snell and spread awareness about the deadly disease that tragically ended his life

Glenn Morcom, Amanda Clarke, Jagar Cockatoo, Nathan Dixon, Mel Hewton and Yvette Clarke remember Thomas Snell

SWAMPDOGS will host the “T for Thomas” round in Darwin rugby union action on Friday and Saturday to remember Thomas Snell and spread awareness about the deadly disease known as sepsis that tragically ended his life in 2017.

Swampdogs take on Palmerston both to start at 5.30pm in reserve grade at NT Rugby Park on Saturday..

The awareness round will also be embraced by Swampdogs’ junior players on Friday.

Thomas contracted the disease at just 13 while on a rugby tour in Queensland.

Thomas Snell, 13, from Darwin who died from sepsis in Brisbane's Lady Cilento Hospital on July 22, 2017 continues to be remembered by the Darwin sporting community

He loved playing the 15-man code, as well as his other chosen sports, cricket and Aussie rules.

He fell ill, developing pneumonia and eventually sepsis, which saw his health deteriorate over just two days.

Ever since, his mum Amanda Clarke has campaigned to raise awareness about the deadly symptoms in the hope of preventing other families from having to go through the same trauma.

Sepsis infects 18,000 Australians each year, with about 5000 losing their lives.

“He was an amazing boy. He was the rock of our family, the calm one, the mature one, healthy and really fit. Like someone twice his age,” Ms Clarke said.

“He played everything and was really good at everything.

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“He had just started taking a liking to cricket but he loved it, setting up his own wicket in the backyard that he would bowl to. He always got the best-and-fairest awards as everyone at his clubs loved him. He was just a real team player.”

When Thomas fell ill there was no mention of sepsis as a diagnosis until it was too late.

As a result, the T for Thomas Foundation has created and put out a number of visuals to ensure that sepsis is recognised early in local communities.

“Sepsis is an overreaction from your immune system and not something you know you will get,” Ms Clarke said.

“We made some visuals to get the awareness out there and to get people using the word sepsis to make sure it is always on the mind.

“Three or four hours before Thomas had mass organ failure, he went to the GP, who couldn’t work out that he had pneumonia, which is the most common source of sepsis.

“If we had realised sooner then there would have been a greater chance for him.

“The biggest sign with Thomas was shortness of breath, and that is something everyone needs to look out for.”

Nathan Dixon was a close friend and squad mate of Thomas’s, with the pair having played together in both rugby and Aussie rules from the age of eight.

“He always had a smile on his face and would always work for you,” Dixon said.

“The T for Thomas round is a great thing so we can remember where he came from to keep his legacy in the sport and with these clubs.”

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To find out more information or to donate to the T for Thomas Foundation, visit www.tforthomas.com.