A devastated father has paid tribute to his ‘kind hearted son’ following his death, after the sixth-form student contracted meningitis.

Sean Walters told of his heartbreak after ‘loving’ Lewis Walters died in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Reading, Berkshire.

He shared photos of Lewis surrounded by his family in an emotional social media post where he remembered his ‘funny and social’ son.

Mr Walters wrote: ‘Words simply can’t describe the heartbreak and upset we’re going through.

‘The early hours of yesterday we lost our Lewis. Within a few hours of feeling a bit ill he developed sepsis and was taken from us.

‘He fought hard and was really taken care of by the ICU team, but they just couldn’t save him.

‘We are absolutely devastated.

‘If you didn’t know Lewis, he was a funny, sociable kind hearted soul. He liked to include everyone and took great joy in winding me and Kate up.’

Sean Walters has paid tribute to his son Lewis (pictured) after he contracted meningitis and passed away

Lewis (pictured) was remembered in an emotional social media post by his father as ‘funny and social’ 

Lewis pictured with dad Sean, who told of his heartbreak after his ‘loving’ son died in the intensive care unit of a hospital in Berkshire

Mr Walters added: ‘He also loved his sisters, friends and family dearly.

‘Life won’t be the same for many of us now that he’s gone.’

The youngster’s death has left his friends shocked – with his passing sending shockwaves through the village of Henley-on-Thames, Berks.

Parents at Henley College received an email explaining the tragedy.

One mother said: ‘It’s come as a total shock to my son and the students. They are so closely knit so it has affected them greatly.

‘They are in all in shock to be honest with you. How do you come to terms with this at such an age. It’s awful.’

Two more college students are being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for meningitis following the outbreak.

Lewis’s death comes as two other college students are being treated at the Royal Berkshire Hospital for meningitis following the recent outbreak

Lewis (pictured) developed sepsis after contracting meningitis 

They attend the Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning, and Highdown Secondary School and Sixth Form Centre in Emmer Green, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said today.

Specialists from the agency confirmed close contacts of all cases are being offered antibiotics as a precautionary measure.

One case has been confirmed by experts as Meningitis B, but it is not the same strain as earlier outbreaks this year.

In March, an outbreak of Meningitis B in Canterbury, Kent, resulted in two deaths and roughly 20 confirmed cases.

The UKHSA said that students and parents at all affected schools are being offered information about the signs and symptoms.

It added that the risk to the wider public remains low.

The principal of Henley College Simon Spearman said: ‘The Henley College can confirm that one of its students sadly passed away earlier this week.

‘Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the student’s family and friends at this extremely difficult time.

‘We are supporting those affected within our college community and are following the advice and guidance given by the UK Health Security Agency.’