Jason Watkins pays heartbreaking tribute to late daughter Maude on her 11th birthday after she died of sepsis
ACTOR Jason Watkins has paid a heartbreaking tribute to his late daughter Maude on what would have been her 11th birthday.
The 53-year-old star - known for his roles in Line Of Duty, Trollied and The Crown - said he lit a candle for her this morning.
Maude died aged two from sepsis after being sent home from hospital on New Year's Eve - before dying in the night.
Posting on Twitter today he wrote: "I lit a candle this morning, as the sun came up as I set off for work - for my beautiful daughter Maudie who’s birthday it is today.
"Always in my thoughts and in my heart for ever. I seem to kiss her more and more each year on these days. #HoldingItTogether."
Jason left Loose Women viewers in tears last year when he revealed the heartbreaking moment he found his daughter dead.
He said: "In the morning our other daughter, who shared a room at the time, came in in the morning and said: 'I can't wake Maude.'
"She had died on the morning of New Year. It's almost Dickensian that in modern medicine that could happen.
"It's had a cataclysmic effect on our family. The first time sepsis was mentioned was six months later, in the inquest."
He added: "What sepsis does is lurks underneath presenting symptoms. With Maude that was breathing difficulties and a chest infection."
Symptoms of sepsis
The NHS advises that you should go to A&E or call 999 if your child (under five) has any of these symptoms:
- Looks mottled, bluish or pale
- Is very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Feels abnormally cold to touch
- Is breathing very fast
- Has a rash that does not fade when you press it
- Has a fit or convulsion
He also explained how he thought Maude had "flu or a heavy cold" and took her to a GP - but got told she had a chest infection.
Fearing something more serious was going on, the family went to A&E but were discharged and sent home with antibiotics.
Jason said: "We went again the next day and the symptoms were worse. She was having breathing difficulties.
"Clara and I drove her at breakneck speed down to a hospital. She was losing consciousness.
Most read in Showbiz
"We ran through A&E and were seen by the consultant. But again she was given a standard treatment. We were discharged again, her temperature was falling and she seemed better.
"This is New Year's Eve and we did everything the doctors told us to do."
He added that she was found dead on the first day of 2010, telling the panel: "I'll spare you all that."