Tragedy: Georgia Tait, who died of meningitis the day after her 18th birthday, had been looking forward to university
A gifted student fell ill with meningitis on her 18th birthday and died the next day.
Georgia Tait had recently returned from a holiday to Kos, Greece, with friends to celebrate completing her A-levels.
She died from meningococcal septicaemia in hospital on Sunday surrounded by her family, just a day after first displaying symptoms.
Georgia, from Carshalton, Surrey, was house captain at the independent girls' school Sutton High School and a volunteer with the British Heart Foundation.
She had been looking forward to starting university this September.
Katherine Crouch, the school's acting headteacher, said the school community was 'deeply saddened' by Georgia's tragic death.
She said: 'Georgia's quietly determined and highly efficient nature will be much missed by by us all. Our thoughts are with her family at this very sad time.'
Joint letters from Sutton High and the Health Protection Agency (HPA) have been sent to all parents of pupils at the school and to local GPs informing them of the death.
Mrs Crouch said no other cases of the disease had been reported, but parents, girls and staff would remain vigilant in checking for symptoms.
The school broke up for the summer holidays on Friday, July 8.
Academic: Georgia excelled at her secondary school Sutton High
Dr Barry Walsh, director of the South West London Health Protection Unit said: 'All close contacts have been offered antibiotics in order to prevent any spread of infection.'
'Parents can be reassured that the risk of any other children contracting this infection is very low.'
Georgia was described by her school as a highly gifted pupil, and was awarded prizes for her performance in Religious Studies and Psychology at the school awards ceremony last Thursday.
Anyone displaying a rash that doesn't fade should seek medical help immediately
She also took part in the British Biology Olympiad and gained a Junior Sport Leadership Award.
Parents concerned about meningitis should look out for flu-like symptoms including a stiff neck, sore throat, high fever, sickness or an aversion to bright lights.
Patients with septicaemia may also develop a rash, which will not fade under pressure. Anyone displaying this symptom should seek medical help immediately.
Meningococcal disease can be treated by antibiotics, but the recovery rate is between just 50 and 80 per cent.
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