EastEnders actor admits he ‘blames himself’ after daughter died aged two from sepsis
AN EASTENDERS actor has heartbreakingly opened up on the death of his daughter from sepsis – admitting he still “blames himself.”
Stage and screen star Jason Watkins, 60, appeared on Good Morning Britain alongside wife Clara Francis on Thursday as they talked of their late daughter, Maudie.
The tot died in 2011, aged just two, after suffering from sepsis – which was not initially diagnosed by medics.
They are fronting an ITV documentary into their daughter’s death and hope their experience will help medics think twice when assessing youngsters for sepsis – which occurs as a reaction to an infection.
Jason told how Maudie’s passing was the “hardest thing that could happen as a parent.”
He candidly said: “I suppose you blame yourself, well, I do.
“I was there when she was discharged from hospital for a second time?”
The actor, who played Gerry Fairweather in EastEnders from 1987 to 1988, became emotional as he continued: “She had breathing difficulties, which is a common symptom of sepsis.
“Her eyes were rolling in the back of her head.
“Didn’t they see what she was like when we came into A&E.”
Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid admitted she felt “very affected” by the couple’s story.
This was mirrored by viewers at home, who took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
One wrote: “So brave of Jason & Clara to go on #gmb to talk about sepsis & the loss of their daughter. The problem is getting GPs to not make you feel like a hypochondriac. Every toddler illness is a virus.”
A second put: “Very brave Jason and Clara and heart breaking. The documentary will no doubt bring awareness about sepsis and will save lives.”
A third simply put: “Absolutely heartbreaking.”
One then added: “Just feeling the utter devastation of Jason and Clara. No words.”
Sepsis is the primary cause of death from infection around the world – that’s more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined.
The condition is always triggered by an infection – but it is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.
Most often the culprit is an infection we all recognise – pneumonia, urinary infections (UTIs), skin infections, including cellulitis, and infections in the stomach, for example appendicitis.
Jason is also known for big roles like Line of Duty and Doctor Who.
He also starred in shows including Miranda and The Wrong Mans.
In 2014, he was cast as Simon Harwood in W1A, the follow-up to the Bafta-winning comedy Twenty Twelve.
What is sepsis?
SEPSIS can strike in adults and children - but what is it?
SEPSIS is the primary cause of death from infection around the world – that’s more than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined.
The condition is always triggered by an infection – but it is not contagious and cannot be passed from person to person.
Most often the culprit is an infection we all recognise – pneumonia, urinary infections (UTIs), skin infections, including cellulitis, and infections in the stomach, for example appendicitis.
The immune system – the body’s defence mechanism – overreacts and the result is it attacks the body.
It can lead to organ failure and septic shock, which can prove fatal.
Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites can all trigger sepsis – though the most dangerous culprit is bacteria.
In developing nations, the condition remains a leading cause of death.
Known by its colloquial name “blood poisoning”, sepsis is also often referred to as a “flesh-eating disease”.
The same year, Jason starred as Christopher Jefferies in the two-part series The Lost Honour of Christopher Jefferies, for which he won the Bafta TV Award for Best Actor and which he dedicated to Maudie.
Jason and Clara: In Memory Of Maudie airs today on ITV at 9pm.