A Conservative MP said he was “lucky to be alive” after undergoing “extreme surgery” for Sepsis.

Craig Mackinlay, who represents South Thanet, revealed in a letter to constituents that he was “rushed to hospital” at the end of September after he began feeling unwell.

He said: “I was diagnosed with Sepsis and placed into an induced coma with multiple organ failures shortly after. Treatment by the NHS has been exemplary and I’m extremely lucky to be alive.”

The married father-of-one paid tribute to the staff who treated him, saying “the road to recovery is underway” and has included “some extreme surgery.”

He added: “I’m sure I’ll have lots more to say about the experience over the months ahead.

“For now, I’d like to send my heartfelt thanks to the many constituents who have sent their good wishes. I’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness of friends and strangers. Thank you all.”

Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection that occurs when the immune system overreacts and starts to damage the body’s own tissues and organs.

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Around a month ago, Mr Mackinlay said on X that he was recovering from it – prompting a flood of messages of support from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and other cabinet ministers.

Labour’s Jess Philips also wished him well, saying she previously had Sepsis and that he would “need a lot of time to recover”.

The letter to constituents on Tuesday was the first one Mr Mackinlay had posted since 25 September – three days before he was rushed to hospital.

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Mr Mackinlay has been an MP since 2015 and is also a chartered accountant.

He beat Nigel Farage to win his seat in Kent, where he currently has a majority of around 10,000.

In 2019, he was cleared of breaking electoral spending laws in his defeat of the former UKIP leader and used his acquittal to call for reform of “sketchy” electoral law.

On the right of the Tory party, Mr Mackinlay’s political career began as a member for UKIP, which he briefly led in 1999.

But claiming he was concerned about “the direction” it was going in, he left in 2005 and joined the Conservative Party.

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