World Sepsis Day: Burnley Boss Jackie Bachteler on Her Near-Fatal Sepsis Scare
BBC Sport shares the powerful story of Jackie Bachteler, manager of Burnley Football Club, who fought for her life with sepsis last year.
As she joined Burnley in December 2025 to work with both the women’s first team and men’s academy, Bachteler thought she just had a common cold. But one morning, she experienced severe dizziness, difficulty breathing, and her vision started to blur.
“To be honest, I thought I was going to die,” she confesses. “I knew something was wrong.” Immediately rushed to hospital, Bachteler was diagnosed with sepsis—a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to infection.
She spent several days in the intensive care unit [ICU], hooked up to IVs and oxygen, while medical staff monitored her organs closely. Bachteler was alone in the hospital, unable to contact her family due to travel restrictions and a snowstorm.
It took months for Bachteler to recover fully, and she still deals with post-sepsis symptoms today. However, this experience significantly changed her perspective on life.
On Sunday, as Burnley hosts Sunderland in the Women’s Super League 2 (14:00 BST), Bachteler will be back in the dugout—a testament to her resilience and determination. Her story is a powerful reminder of the importance of recognizing sepsis symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention.
In light of World Sepsis Day, Bachteler hopes to raise awareness about this often-misunderstood condition and save lives.
