Family and friends' Kiltwalk challenge in memory of Carronshore FVRH nurse who died of sepsis
Family and friends of a much-loved nurse who died suddenly last year, aged only 47, have completed a charity walk in her memory.
Claire McCormack from Carronshore was a senior staff nurse at Forth Valley Royal Hospital and died unexpectedly in June 2025 after contracting sepsis.
Her daughter Stephanie, 20, said it was a “huge shock” to everyone how quickly her mum became unwell and died.
She said: “On Monday, June 23 my mum didn’t go to work as usual at FVRH’s ward A31. She was sick and generally feeling unwell, which we thought was just food poisoning as we had been at a barbecue the previous Saturday.
"I was working from home that day and noticed that my mum was in severe pain, so I phoned the doctor’s. They advised that I should phone 999, who in turn said that they couldn’t help and that I should phone the doctor … so I decided to take my mum to A&E at her own hospital – FVRH.”
Within an hour of arriving Claire had deteriorated – her skin was turning purple and she was delirious by this point.
After a scan failed to determine the cause, it was decided to put her into an induced coma in ICU and started on dialysis.
Stephanie added: “She then went into multi organ failure – the cause of which was unknown at the time, but we later found out was due to sepsis. After my mum passed, we also found out that she had no spleen, which explained why she was unable to recover.
"She was never conscious enough to be informed of her diagnosis of sepsis. Because they were unsure of the cause at the beginning, the doctors explained to us that my mum was very ill and that she might not survive. To hear this made me feel physically sick. It is not what you expect when you thought your mum was just unwell.
"From taking my mum to hospital to being told this in the space of just three hours was something we struggled to comprehend. Especially as my mum was the fittest person we knew.”
Claire remained in ICU until her death on June 29.
Stephanie and Claire’s husband Sandy were given details about support organisations, including Sepsis Research FEAT. It was founded in memory of Dr Fiona Agnew, a Bo’ness GP who was herself treated for sepsis at FVRH but sadly died the day after the stillbirth of her second child.
Claire’s family have been sharing information about sepsis with others to encourage people to understand the signs and act fast to get help if they spot them.
“Mum was the life and soul of everything, said Stephanie, “she loved dancing, loved people and she made such a big impact on everyone who knew her.
"Sepsis can happen to everyone, no matter your age or health. It is a silent killer. I want to be able to share my mum’s story to help people understand that. Acting tough or brave and hiding your health could be fatal.”
Last weekend Stephanie, Sandy and many of Claire’s family and friends took part in the Kiltwalk and so far have raised almost £9000 for Sepsis Research FEAT.
The group, who called themselves the Turbonators, walked 14.5 miles from Clydebank to Loch Lomond.
One of those taking party was family friend Caroline Baird, who paid to Claire and explained what her loss had meant to those close to her.
She said: "Claire spent her life looking after everyone else, and as a nurse also knew the symptoms of sepsis, that's why losing her to the disease was even harder to understand. It was very unexpected and her death was incredibly hard for the family."
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage the body's own tissue and organs. According to the latest charity data, the condition accounts for approximately 50,000 deaths in the UK annually.
The common symptoms of sepsis in adults are: very high or low body temperature; uncontrollable shivering; confusion or disorientation; passing less urine than normal; and blotchy or cold arms and legs.
Other symptoms may include: fast, or difficulty in, breathing; rapid heartbeat; extreme pain or discomfort; feeling dizzy or faint; and mottled or discoloured skin.
While on their own, each of these symptoms can indicate other health problems that may still require medical care, however, if you or someone you know shows a combination of these symptoms, becoming progressively worse you should seek medical attention immediately.
To donate to The Turbonators Kiltwalk fund, visit the Just Giving page.