Jason Watkins says he 'still blames himself' over daughter Maude's tragic death

Actor Jason Watkins has confessed that he still blames himself for the loss of his young daughter Maude.

Jason and his wife Clara Francis lost their child 12 years ago when she was just two years old.

Jason and Clara had done everything they could when Maude starting suffering from flu-like symptoms and respiratory problems.

But, despite their instincts that something was wrong, and two separate hospital visits, doctors diagnosed Maude with Croup and sent them home with Maude.

Heartbreaking, Maude actually had the deadly, but difficult-to-detect sepsis.

Now, the couple are releasing a documentary called Jason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie, where they'll tell their late daughter's story and discuss the symptoms of Sepsis that parents should look out for.

Speaking ahead of the documentary, Jason admitted he still blames himself for Maude's passing.

"It's hard for us as parents... that's one of the painful things, [wondering] did we do everything we could?" he said on Good Morning Britain.

"It's easy to blame yourself. I suppose you still - well, I still do. Because I was there when she was discharged the second time."

Good Morning Britain

Clara agreed: "I think we always will because it's that instinct.

"If I had just been more vociferous and demanded - even though I didn't know what Sepsis was - if I'd have stuck with my instinct that she was seriously, seriously ill, and not been so accepting."

Clara and Jason had never heard of Sepsis before Maude's passing.

That's why, when they brought Maude to the hospital, and were told they had nothing to worry about, they felt 'very reassured'.

Clara, who had a gut feeling that something was wrong when she brought Maude to hospital, told hosts Susanna Reid and Adil Ray: "I think, at that stage, before your child dies, you believe what you're told when a doctor tells you.

"I was incredibly reassured, I was like, 'Oh good, because my instinct is that she's really not well, but if they're telling me she's okay and they haven't asked to keep her in overnight, then fine.'"

Good Morning Britain

The couple noted that another reason they decided to make the documentary was to show audiences that 'you can survive' after a heartbreak as devastating as losing a child.

"We are an imperfect family who have survived the worst thing that can happen to a parent," said Jason.

"When you lose a child initially, it's indescribable, you sense of guilt, loss, absence of your child, the light of your life is gone and you don't know how you can go on.

"It also might give people who haven't suffered such a loss an idea of what parents might need or things that you might be able to do."

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677

Topics: Celebrity, Health

Ali Condon

Ali is a journalist for LADbible Group, writing on all things film, music, and entertainment across Tyla, LADbible and UNILAD. You can contact Ali at [email protected].

@alicondon