Alex Warwick, 23, was enjoying life in Liverpool when he suddenly fell ill
06:00, 08 Jan 2026Updated 09:24, 08 Jan 2026
Alex with his mum Indira and dad Ian
A man’s life turned has been turned upside down after being diagnosed with a rare aggressive brain tumour. Alex Warwick, 23, was part way through his medicine course at the University of Liverpool when he suddenly fell ill with what turned out to be a hugely serious and dangerous tumour.
Now, with Alex not responding well to chemotherapy, his family and friends are urgently trying to raise the funds required for a cutting-edge treatment in Germany. Alex, originally from North London, said he fell in love with the city of Liverpool while he has been living here, and even more so because of the support he has received since he became ill.
Alex has received treatment at city hospitals The Walton Centre and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. It was in May last year when Alex was buying a takeaway and speaking to a friend over FaceTime when it became clear something was wrong.
His friend noticed an issue with his speech before he went home and told his housemates he wasn’t feeling well. The situation declined rapidly and his friends and housemates took him to the Royal Liverpool Hospital.
Doctors said Alex had suffered a stroke and he was transferred to Aintree where much more devastating news was delivered. It was found the 23-year-old had a brain tumour and would need emergency surgery.
This was something he and his devastated friends had to explain to his parents who had driven through the night to Liverpool from their home in Weymouth. Alex’s dad, Ian, described what that situation was like to arrive into.
He told the ECHO: “It was a very long journey, Alex’s mum Indira and I just talked all the way to stay alert before we walked into the hospital and realised the seriousness of the situation.
Alex Warwick is a hugely popular figure at the University of Liverpool
“Alex’s friends had stayed with him the whole time and gave us a full debrief. He has an astonishing group of friends who couldn’t do enough for him.”
Ian added: “In the early stages, you have no choices, there are no options, you walk into a critical situation and you just have to step up and try and work out what will be best because Alex was not in a position to be able to make decisions for himself.
“The pressure on his brain was so high, so he had to have a temporary external shunt put in and we had to make the decision to make that a permanent shunt once he had the initial surgery.”
Ian was full of praise for Alex’s surgeon at The Walton Centre, Professor Andrew Brodbelt. He added: “He was simply wonderful, I cannot praise the man highly enough.”
To donate to Alex’s treatment fundraiser click here
Alex was diagnosed with a very high grade glioma, which is being treated as a gliobastoma. Tragically this typically carries a prognosis of 12 to 18 months. While a large section of the tumour was removed with surgery, he was told he needed chemotherapy and radiotherapy to try and remove the rest.
Alex’s parents moved up from Devon to Huyton so they could be with him during the gruelling period of treatment. Ian said: “The community there was amazing. All the neighbours rallied round to support us through this whole process.”
For Alex himself, staying in Liverpool was important. Despite coming from London, he has become an adopted Scouser over the past five years, falling in love with the city.
He has even developed a fondness for Liverpool Football Club and spent time working as a medic at Anfield.
He told the ECHO: “I love Liverpool. The fact I had The Walton Centre and Clatterbridge Cancer Centre on my doorstep was amazing, both of them are part of my medical course as well.
“It was always important for me to stay in Liverpool, this is where my life is. I always sing the praises of this city to my friends from elsewhere. Everyone here is so friendly and helpful.”
His dad added: “When he came for his university interview here I was walking around the city for a few hours. When I met up with him again I said I hope it went well because you are going to love this place – and he does.”
Alex with his mum Indira, dad Ian and sister Isabella
Sadly, Alex will soon reach the end of his standard treatment plan with the NHS and he has experienced some regrowth of his tumour. This means that his family have been advised to seek our private treatment plans, specifically a cutting-edge immunotherapy that is available in Germany.
This treatment, along with travel costs and insurance is expected to cost around £200,000. Already Alex’s family and friends have raised an impressive £58,000, but with time of the essence, they are desperate to share his story and try and raise more funds for this vital treatment.
Alex said: “I have been amazed at people’s generosity, within about 12 hours we hit 10k or something. I was taken aback by the messages people were sending. Everyone has been so kind. No matter big or small, everyone’s contributions are amazing.
“From the start we have been looking at other things but now it has become very important because I have been on chemotherapy alone for a few months and it seems to have not worked very well.”
Ian added: “Unfortunately all of it is experimental from here on in, that’s the bottom line, because we don’t really have any other options under the NHS.
“Alex has had some regrowth after the chemotherapy, so we are urgently looking to do things elsewhere. It’s such a shame because the NHS has been simply brilliant throughout all of this. We need to support that but it is terribly sad that we have to go elsewhere.
“But people have been so generous, we have all been crying at the messages coming through on the fundraising page.”
It is clear from the messages posted about Alex what a popular and loved young man he is.
His close friend, fellow medical student and housemate John Johnson, from Walton, who travelled with him to hospital when he fell ill and has continued to support him told the ECHO: “I met Alex on my course, we got really close and within two months we agreed to live together.
“He was just so bubbly and funny. I’m a bit of a worrier and he’s the opposite, so he was really good at helping me see things differently and getting me out of my shell.
“I’ve got no issue in saying that he has had a massive impact on me. We get on so well, we do have a special relationship.”
Alex’s dad Ian added: “We had a toast to Alex recently and I could barely get the words out, but one thing I said is that I don’t think Alex has had a minute of his life where he hasn’t known how loved he is and I think that’s given him amazing strength, positivity as well as kindness.
Alex Warwick with his close friend and fellow medical student John Johnson
“He is one of the most open, genuinely thoughtful and incredibly empathetic people you will ever meet in your life.”
As well as his mum and dad, Alex is being supported by his three sisters older sisters. He said he is lucky to have so much love around him during his difficult fight.
He added: “My family have been incredible, my mum, dad and sisters. I have felt so much love and support which has been so important. For anyone who is going through this alone, it must be so difficult.”
In the meantime, despite the daunting challenge ahead, Alex, who completed his masters course after his diagnosis, is now looking to return to his studies in Liverpool later this year.
He added: “I am trying to keep some sense of normality, because obviously this has all been quite a shock. I really want to do back to university in September.”
To donate to Alex’s treatment fundraiser click here