Harry Redknapp Speaks on Wife Sandra’s Sepsis Ordeal as He Fronts UK Awareness Drive
Former Premier League manager Harry Redknapp has revealed how his wife Sandra’s brush with sepsis became one of the most frightening chapters of his life.
The 78-year-old, who captured the nation’s heart when he won I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, is now taking that same energy into a campaign that could save thousands of lives.
“In 2018, my wife Sandra developed sepsis from a kidney infection. It was a terrifying experience, but we were lucky. She survived; 48,000 families across the UK aren’t as fortunate.
That’s why I’ve teamed up with the UK Sepsis Trust to get lifesaving information in front of as many people as possible,” Redknapp said.
Sepsis – sometimes called blood poisoning, is one of the UK’s deadliest medical conditions. The NHS describes it as a critical reaction where the immune system, in trying to fight infection, turns on the body’s own tissues and organs.
The UK Sepsis Trust estimates 48,000 people die from it every year, while 245,000 more are affected. Symptoms are often mistaken for flu, chest infections, or general fatigue, making it notoriously difficult to identify in time.
Health scares in the public eye have recently drawn attention to serious conditions, from Redknapp’s wife Sandra’s ordeal to Gordon Ramsay speaking about skin cancer, reminding many that early awareness can make all the difference.
NEW: Harry Redknapp tells me it was “touch and go” when his wife Sandra contracted sepsis in 2018. The former AFC Bournemouth manager says it’s “scary” how quickly the condition can become deadly. @itvmeridian pic.twitter.com/XkicvEplq1
— Kit Bradshaw (@kitbradshaw) September 2, 2025
Doctors stress that anyone suspecting sepsis should call 999 or head to A&E without delay.
The former Tottenham and Portsmouth boss has become the face of It’s Game On For Sepsis, an awareness campaign aimed at making people “sepsis savvy.”
The initiative includes a free online game, Sepsis Savvy Shootout, where players can not only test their knowledge but also enter a prize draw to meet Redknapp. The draw closes on 30 September, though the game will remain as an educational tool on the charity’s website.
Dr Ron Daniels, founder and chief medical officer of the UK Sepsis Trust, praised Redknapp’s involvement: “Sports communities look after one another and rally around those in need. It’s this very ethos that inspired the idea for our Game On campaign.
The likelihood is that someone in your community has already been impacted by sepsis, whether directly or indirectly, and at UKST we’re committed to raising awareness of this life-changing condition.
We’re delighted to have Harry supporting our campaign, our goal is to empower every community to become sepsis savvy.”
Redknapp’s public persona has long been shaped by both football and family. Married to Sandra since the late 1960s, he often credits her as his rock. The couple share two sons, Jamie former England midfielder turned Sky Sports pundit and Mark.
Through marriage, Redknapp is also uncle to Chelsea and England legend Frank Lampard.
His managerial career remains one of the most colourful in English football. From West Ham to Southampton and Tottenham, his crowning moment came with Portsmouth’s FA Cup triumph in 2008.
But for all the medals and memories, the fear of losing Sandra to sepsis remains etched in his voice. And it is that moment of vulnerability which has driven him to fight back, ensuring other families do not face the same ordeal in silence.
