Four hours after he started showing symptoms of meningococcal disease while on exchange, the nephew of a leading chef for a top AFL team tragically passed away. Six days after starting a holiday in Portugal with friends, 21-year-old Perth man Alexander "Zander" Philogenes passed away in an Austrian hospital on April 11.
In his fourth year of a double degree in chemical engineering and finance, Zander fell in love with the coastal city of Porto and chose to spend a few more days there. According to the Daily Mail, when he boarded his flight home to Vienna, where he was spending six months in a university exchange program, tragedy struck.
By the end of the three-hour flight, Zander had a headache, a rash, dizziness, and shortness of breath. He texted friends to let them know he wasn’t feeling well. The 21-year-old was taken by helicopter to the nearest hospital after going into cardiac arrest at the airport upon landing in Vienna.
"Perth student Alexander Philogene, 21, dies hours after developing meningococcal B symptoms on flight."
— Denis - The COVID info guy - (@BigBadDenis) April 24, 2026
"Australians have been warned against a severe strain of meningococcal B circulating in Europe after a Perth man died from the deadly disease while on university exchange." pic.twitter.com/Hy1cPsCPrt
Four hours after showing symptoms of meningococcal sepsis, which he had contracted in Porto, he was pronounced dead. Zander’s mother, Jessica, and his uncle, Chris Jarmer, are still processing the terrible loss.
“He was living his best life. He looked so happy and healthy.” Jessica told The Advertiser about their last FaceTime. “It's so tragic. We've cried a river and still do. He was such a gifted student, highly intelligent, and he had a love of life.”
Zander is said to have contracted a particularly deadly type of meningococcal disease that has now become increasingly common in Europe despite having had a vaccination. After the trip, none of his fellow travelers reported experiencing any issues.
His family has advised young people not to travel alone, claiming that if Zander had a companion, he could have sought medical attention sooner. During a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for Zander’s school, family friend Louise Williams called him a “truly kind and beautiful soul.”
Caution to those travelling to Europe - this group B meningococcal strain - the same one which caused an outbreak in Kent, England - is rampant in Europe.
— Soph (@Sophs0123) April 23, 2026
Has claimed the life of the nephew of Chris Jarmer (a fantastic local chef).
Be aware of symptoms, and act fast. https://t.co/ZiVQ98yZMU
“Our entire community is heartbroken for the Philogenes family, and so many of us are feeling helpless - wishing we could take even a small part of this pain away,” she stated. “This is one way we can come together to support them. Any contribution, no matter how small, will support the family through the incredibly difficult days ahead.”
Zander, a loyal Crows fan, will receive a customized guernsey bearing his name and the number 21 on the back. Meningococcal B is currently the most common and severe form of disease in the UK, and its early symptoms can be frustratingly confusing.
Like the flu, it often starts with a sudden fever, headache, nausea, muscle aches, and an overall feeling of being sick. Cases are sometimes overlooked in the critical early hours because these symptoms might be mistaken for common viral diseases or even a hangover.
A well-known warning sign is a rash that does not go away when pressed, but it often appears late or may not show up at all.
