Patients with SAH transferred to a neurosurgical centre will be identified and approached for study participation. Following consent, patients will be randomised to receive either IL-1Ra or placebo for a maximum of 21 days from onset of symptoms. Patients who are found to be non-aneurysmal following randomisation will be withdrawn from the study treatment. Blood samples for plasma IL-6 will be obtained prior to randomisation and at day 3-5 post randomisation for IL-6 & IL-1 measurement. Safety will be measured at 30 days post randomisation and outcome assessed at 6 months post randomisation.