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The Crown star Jason Watkins reveals heartbreaking moment two-year-old daughter died from sepsis

Young Maud was discharged from hospital twice before dying at home

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 12 September 2019 15:07 BST
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Jason Watkins says his daughter died from sepsis when she was two

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The Crown star Jason Watkins has revealed his daughter died from sepsis when she was just two.

Speaking in a heartfelt interview on TV show Loose Women, the British star said Maud died from the condition on New Year’s Day in 2011.

He told the ITV hosts that his other daughter was the one to find her and that the “incredibly painful” experience has had a “cataclysmic effect” on his family.

Maud was diagnosed with a chest infection after Watkins had taken her to see a GP because she was suffering from a sore throat.

After going to A&E, Maud was discharged with antibiotics – but after her symptoms got worse, they brought her back to the hospital.

Maud was discharged once again and she died the following morning.

“As a parent – this is crucial to sepsis – I think if your instinct leads you a certain way you should follow it up,” he said.

“It’s almost Dickensian that in modern medical practise that could happen,” he continued, adding: “The first time sepsis was mentioned was six months later, in the inquest.”

Sepsis, which Watkins said “lurks underneath presenting symptoms”, kills five people in the UK every single hour.

Watkins will appear in Netflix series The Crown as Harold Wilson, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976.

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