Line Of Duty star Jason Watkins: My toddler's sepsis death saved another child's life

Jason told the Daily Mail that Maude had sniffles in December 2010, and then a sore throat - the kind of symptoms all parents are familiar with.

But 12 days after it had all started, Jason felt it was progressing to her chest and took her to the doctor. The doctor suggested a visit to A and E, where they thought Maude might have croup: she was given steroids to reduce the inflammation and sent home.

At home, Maude started to have trouble breathing, was pale and finding it hard to stay awake. Jason took her back to hospital where she was put on a drip and given antibiotics.

Doctors were sure it was a classic case of croup and sent her home. Her parents put her to bed, but the next morning, New Year's Day, they were unable to wake her. A paramedic arrived quickly but couldn't save her.

Only at the inquest, 7 months later, did Jason and Clara hear the word 'sepsis' mentioned for the first time.

After their tragic loss, Jason and wife Clara began campaigning to raise awareness of sepsis - and soon learned they’d helped a family thousands of miles away to identify the symptoms in another child.

“What’s happened is still a tragedy in our lives that we have to deal with every day,” he told The Mirror.

“But it is good to know that we have helped reach out to people through talking about our experience.

“Within a week of speaking about it on a radio show I had a message on Twitter from a woman who’s friend was the wife of an American soldier.

“She had heard what I had said about sepsis and had recognised it in her friend’s sick daughter. The friend insisted that the girl went back to a military hospital and had tests, and so they persisted…”

Jason then revealed that what they’d heard from him ended up saving that girl’s life - something he said he found “terribly humbling.”

Their information proved to be life-saving. ? ?

What are the signs of sepsis?

Babies and young children are among those with the highest risk of developing sepsis, which can occur after even a minor infection like a sore throat.

Sepsis happens when bacteria gets into your bloodstream and your body overreacts to the infection and starts attacking itself, rather than the cause of the infection, causing inflammation, swelling and blood clotting.

Fever, abnormally low temperature, persistent vomiting for more than 24 hours, rapid breathing, cold or clammy skin, or just seeming a bit ‘off’, ‘listless’ or floppy are just some of the symptoms to look out for - check out the full list of early symptoms and red flag symptoms here.

Read more:

• Sepsis: what every parent needs to know
• Mum's heartbreaking video about sepsis signs
• Baby spots and rashes in pictures