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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte McIntyre

Actor Jason Watkins close to tears over silent killer that led to toddler's death

Jason Watkins and Clara Francis spoke to Susanna Reid and Adil Ray on Thursday's Good Morning Britain about the death of their two-year-old daughter Maudie.

The grieving parents revealed they believe Maude's death could have been avoided as they discussed their new ITV documentary Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie.

The McDonald and Dodds star, 60, and his wife lost their daughter to "silent killer" sepsis in 2011.

Jason and Clara explained they weren't aware of the symptoms of sepsis before Maude died as Good Morning Britain host Susanna questioned what advice they have for parents of a child who they suspect may be suffering from the awful condition.

Actor Jason Watkins and his wife Clara opened up on their daughter's death (ITV)

Jason began: "It's hard for us as parents, that's one of the painful things did we go everything that we did and it's easy to blame yourself, well I still do because I was there when she was discharged a second time."

"I think we always will because it is that instinct thing, 'If I had just been more demanding,' even though I didn't know [Maudie was suffering from sepsis]," Clara added.

"It's a cruel condition," Clara continued before saying it's "not fair on parents" to expect them to recognise the signs of sepsis on their own.

Speaking about their grief, the grieving mum said: "You never get over it but somehow you find a way of carrying them through."

Maudie died at age two after contracting sepsis (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Susanna asked the parents what Maudie was like with Justin saying: "She was extraordinary, full of life, full of joy, I find it difficult going back to the joy because I'm filled with the trauma of her loss."

Jason found his daughter dead in her bed on New Year's Day after suffering from flu symptoms. 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.

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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