Actor Jason Watkins says his daughter Maude's death could have been avoided

28 March 2023 , 14:54

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Jason Watkins says he believes his daughter Maude's tragic death could have been avoided

Jason Watkins says he believes his daughter Maude's tragic death could have been avoided ahead of a new documentary.

The actor, 60, and his wife Clara lost their two-year-old to sepsis in 2011.

Jason sadly found his daughter, who had been suffering from flu, dead in her bed on New Year's Day. Despite two hospital visits, Maude's flu symptoms masked the sepsis and her condition went undiagnosed.

The actor and his wife, who share daughter Bessie and son Gilbert, have now bravely decided to share their story in Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie.

Ahead of the documentary's release, the couple spoke to Giovanna Fletcher on her Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast about the devastating loss of their child.

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Jason Watkins says he believes his daughter Maude's tragic death could have been avoided

'I've always felt with Maude, she was just unlucky," said Clara. "You know, another child may have gone to A&E and they've had a consultant there who has gone 'I think this could be sepsis' and their child is alive.

"I think it's important to say, some parents are listened to. I do believe it to be luck. (…) That makes it so much more painful to me because this is a death that could have been avoided. (…)

"Why didn't I scream at shout at the hospital and demand they keep her there? (…) I failed at the thing I was supposed to be doing, I was supposed to keep her alive."

Little Maude was just two when she died

Sepsis is the body's extreme response to infection and can show symptoms, including: confusion or disorientation, shortness of breath, high heart rate, fever, or shivering, extreme pain or discomfort, and clammy or sweaty skin.

Jason explained Maude couldn't breathe, was losing consciousness and "flopping" when he took her to hospital, saying: "But because the doctors kept saying, 'its fine' I thought 'oh ok'. (…)

"Because, before something like this happens you are trusting of doctors (…) you kind of go 'if the doctor, who went to medical school, is telling me this then I'm going to believe it.'

The couple have made a documentary: Jason and Clara in Memory of Maude

"But when I look back my instinct was, no this is really serious. And I wish I had been more trusting of my instinct, which I am now."

Clara and Jason are now campaigning for better awareness of recognising the signs of sepsis and offer support to couples who have suffered bereavement in their new documentary.

Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie airs on ITV1 and ITVX later this year.

If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at childbereavementuk.org or you can call them on 0800 02 888 40.

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