'I thought I was going to die' - Burnley boss on sepsis scare

WHAT HAPPENED
Burnley manager Jackie Bachteler will take her place in the dugout at Turf Moor on Sunday for the first time, nine months after a life-threatening bout of sepsis. Three weeks after arriving at the club in December, she was rushed to A&E with rapidly falling blood pressure and low oxygen levels, treated with IV fluids, antibiotics and oxygen, and spent several days in intensive care.

Bachteler says the illness left her bedridden for months, forced her to relearn how to walk, and continues to cause post-sepsis symptoms such as dizzy spells and severe fatigue. She returned to Burnley in July as the women’s team manager and has relied on club medical staff and her coaching colleagues while she recovers.

KEY CONTEXT
- Bachteler moved from San Diego to join Burnley’s coaching set-up in December 2025, initially working with the women’s first team and the men’s academy.
- The match she will attend is Burnley v Sunderland in the Women’s Super League 2 on Sunday, scheduled for 14:00 BST; the fixture also coincides with World Sepsis Day.
- Club doctors treated her in the acute phase, arranged ongoing respiratory specialist input and supported her rehabilitation; she has delegated duties to other members of the coaching team as needed.

WHY IT MATTERS
Bachteler’s return to match-day duties is significant for Burnley’s women’s setup because it marks the restoration of their newly appointed manager’s on-pitch leadership after a serious medical emergency. The continuity of coaching and medical support described in her account highlights the club’s role in her recovery and the practical steps taken to keep the team functioning while she manages ongoing health issues.

WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Bachteler carries out full match-day responsibilities at Turf Moor on Sunday or continues to share duties with her coaching staff.
- How her ongoing post-sepsis symptoms are managed in the short term, including the follow-up with a respiratory specialist arranged by the club.
- Any further updates from Burnley on her availability and workload as the season progresses.

KEY FACTS
- Jackie Bachteler is 37 and joined Burnley in December 2025.
- She was diagnosed with sepsis and treated in hospital, including a stay in intensive care.
- She returned to Burnley in July as the women’s team manager after months of recovery.
- She continues to experience post-sepsis syndrome (dizziness and extreme fatigue).
- Burnley host Sunderland in the Women’s Super League 2 on Sunday at 14:00 BST.