A Perth student has died overseas after catching an aggressive form of Meningococcal B.

The speed at which the bacterial infection took Alexander Philogene’s life is shocking.

The 21 year old, known as Zander, started to feel unwell on a flight in Europe and within a few hours, he was dead.

He had been studying abroad in Austria, his family’s homeland, at the time and was on a trip of a lifetime.

In a recent video, the Perth Modern School graduate shared the inspirational words: “the shot you take will never look good, if you don’t take time to stop and look around”.

His uncle, renowned South Australian chef Chris Jarmer, described him a “very smart, very funny young boy”.

Tragedy struck when he was returning from a trip to Portugal earlier this month.

Zander started showing symptoms before boarding and deteriorated significantly within three hours of arriving.

He was rushed to hospital, but it was too late.

“I just can’t fathom how much of a tragedy it is,” his uncle said.

“I think it’s so important when you’re travelling as well in a foreign country to get yourself checked out with the slightest symptoms of anything.”

Doctors believe Zander may have caught a new sub type of the B-strain which is aggressive, highly transmissable and rampant through England.

Zander was vaccinated against the disease but it’s not clear if he was protected against all strains.

Meningococcal Centre Australia CEO Karen Quick said an additional jab would have saved him.

“If he had of had the B vaccination there is every chance he could be here today,” she said.

Vaccination for Meningococcal is free in WA, but it only protects against four strains.

The B-strain vaccine costs about $400 for adults and $600 for babies.

It accounts for 80 per cent of all cases in Australia.

Advocates are campaigning for the WA government to make it free.

Zander’s family are aiming to use donations from a GoFundMe to start a scholarship in his honour at Perth Modern.

Tonight they’re are in Vienna, faced with the heartbreaking task of arranging his funeral.