A heartbroken mum said she was living in her “own personal prison” after falling into a coma and losing her baby, her feet and her fingers in a tragic sequence of events.

St George’s Hospital has launched an investigation after Sandra Herbreau Delachaise, from South Wimbledon, fell into a 10-day coma on January 12 after unknowingly contracting meningitis.

The illness, which she claims doctors treating her failed to detect, almost killed her after she had to be resuscitated twice.

It also meant her baby boy Michael had to be delivered stillborn at only 26 weeks.

"I've lost everything"

Both her feet and three fingers on her left hand also had to be amputated, leaving her permanently in a wheelchair and forcing her to remain in hospital because her home has no disabled access.

Ms Delachaise, 32, said: “I have lost everything. All I have got are pictures of my dead son. You can’t feed a picture, you can’t hold a picture.

“Now I’m trapped in hospital for the next two months, where I’m surrounded by smiling mothers and their babies – it’s like I’m in my own personal prison.

“I just can’t understand how this could have happened. One minute I’m fine, and the next my whole world has been destroyed.”

She was admitted to St George’s on January 10 after complaining of stomach cramps and a rash.

Full investigation launched at hospital

Her mother, Christine Johnson, said the family was now considering legal action.

She said: “I want answers, I was told she had swine flu and she could go home.

"She would have died if she had been allowed to go back home.

“Thank God she didn’t, otherwise I would have lost my daughter as well as my poor grandson.”

A spokeswoman from St George’s Healthcare Trust said: “This is a very tragic case and we understand the distress it has caused.

"Bacterial meningitis develops rapidly and can be extremely difficult to diagnose.

“The trust is carrying out a full investigation and we will share the findings with Ms Herbreau-Delachaise.

"We are continuing to care for Ms Herbreau Delachaise.”

A Meningitis Trust spokesman said people should trust their instincts as meningitis could kill within hours.

She said: “This story is utterly heartbreaking. Meningitis is a devastating disease which can strike in minutes and kill within hours.

Meningitis requires urgent medical help and anything that delays this could result in death or severe after-effects.

The rash that is commonly associated with meningitis doesn’t appear in all cases, so it is vital that people are aware of the other symptoms and trust their instincts.

For 24-hour meningitis advice call 0800 0281818.

To have your say on this tragic story, leave a comment below, call 020 8722 6335, or email: ooakes@london.newsquest.co.uk.