LOOSE Women viewers were in tears today after Line Of Duty star Jason Watkins revealed the heartbreaking moment he found his daughter dead from sepsis.
The 53-year-old actor, who is also in comedies Trolled and W1A, explained how two-year-old Maude was sent home from hospital on New Year’s Eve – before dying in the night.
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
Speaking about how he has struggled to move on, Jason explained how he went for a walk in the park with his family, saying: “I saw a child that looked exactly like Maude.
“My wife Clara was approaching and me and Dennis, my father in law, said: ‘Oh let’s go and do something else.’ It’s incredibly painful.”
Earlier, he 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.
“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.”
Most read in TV & Showbiz
He added that she was found dead on the first day of 2010, telling the panel: “I’ll spare you all that.”
Viewers congratulated the show for telling Jason’s story with many saying they were left “incredibly moved”.
One tweeted: “Losing a child must be the worse thing in the world. I hope Jason finds some small comfort campaigning in Maud’s memory.”
Another wrote simply: “Heartbreaking.”
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.