Elmar Hugo Freisler: Another Face of Sepsis
They called Elmar the man with nine lives. After surviving a devastating workplace accident in 1970, a major heart attack in 2019, and countless other health challenges, he seemed to overcome every obstacle life placed in his path. But on 25 February 2026, sepsis took him from us.
Elmar was 80 years old, but age never defined him. He was curious, adventurous, generous, and full of life. He loved gardening, fishing, making and collecting things, exploring new places, and spending time with the people he loved. Having migrated to Australia from Germany as a child, he built a remarkable life alongside his wife Margaret of almost 60 years, their children, and grandchildren. To many, he was a helper, a joker, and a beloved family man. To me, he was more than a grandfather. He helped raise me and shaped the person I am today.
On 20 February 2026, Elmar fell at home after his legs gave way. Because of longstanding spinal injuries and mobility issues, falls were not entirely unusual. He was sore, had a slight fever, was short of breath, and seemed unusually sleepy, but we thought the hospital would assess him and send him home.
Instead, everything changed.
That evening, his condition deteriorated. His blood pressure could not be maintained, he became increasingly confused, and he was transferred to intensive care. When clinicians asked whether he had dementia, we knew something was seriously wrong. Elmar was sharp-minded and independent. The confusion was sudden and profound.
Soon we heard the words that would change our lives: sepsis and septic shock. Further testing revealed Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE), a difficult-to-treat resistant infection. What we initially believed was a hospital visit after a fall had become a fight for his life.
Over the next few days, we clung to every sign of improvement. But his confusion worsened, his condition became more critical, and on Wednesday 25 February his blood pressure suddenly dropped. At 1:45 pm, Elmar closed his eyes and peacefully went to sleep. Five days after arriving in hospital, he was gone.
Sepsis took Margaret’s husband, a father, a grandfather, and a man deeply loved by family and friends. It left a space that can never be filled.
Before Elmar became ill, I knew the word “sepsis” but did not truly understand it. I did not realise how quickly someone could deteriorate, how significant sudden confusion could be, or how rapidly lives could be divided into a “before” and “after.” Now I do.
That is why I tell his story. Behind every sepsis statistic is a person, and behind every person is a family hoping they will come home. If there is one lesson from Elmar’s life, it is this: if someone you love is becoming seriously unwell, ask the question, “Could this be sepsis?” Seek help early and speak up if something does not feel right. Time matters.
Elmar Hugo Freisler died from sepsis on 25 February 2026, aged 80. By sharing his story, we hope his voice continues to protect others, raise awareness, and remind us all that sepsis can change everything in a matter of days. He was loved beyond words, missed beyond measure, and will forever be another Face of Sepsis.