Jason Watkins recalls 'incredibly painful' daughter death

Jason Watkins says the death of his two-year-old daughter had a "cataclysmic effect" on his family, and still feels "incredibly painful".

The \'Trollied\' star and his wife Clara Francis tragically lost their little one Maude on New Year\'s Day 2011 to sepsis, which he hadn\'t heard of at the time, and Jason is now raising awareness of the condition, which is also known as blood poisoning.

Recalling the moment his daughter was found, he said: "In the morning our other daughter, who shared a room at the time, came in in the morning and said, \'I can\'t wake Maude.\'

"She had died on the morning of new year. It\'s almost Dickensian that in modern medicine that could happen.

"It\'s had a cataclysmic effect on our family. The first time sepsis was mentioned was six months later, in the inquest.

"What sepsis does is lurks underneath presenting symptoms. With Maude that was breathing difficulties and a chest infection."

The \'Line of Duty\' actor and his wife still feel the pain of Maude\'s passing.

Speaking on \'Loose Women\' about a recent family day out, he added: "I saw a child that looked exactly like Maude.

"My wife Clara was approaching and me and Dennis, my father in law, said, \'Oh let\'s go and do something else.\' It\'s incredibly painful."

Jason spoke out about sepsis in July 2018 when he encouraged his followers to tune into ITV soap Coronation Street\'s storyline on the subject, which saw Jack Webster\'s (Kyran Bowes) life left hanging in the balance after he is diagnosed with the condition.

The \'W1A\' star wrote on Twitter: "Do watch @itvcorrie tonight- which begins a #Sepsis storyline.Follow the unfolding drama and learn more about the condition and how to spot it. @itvnews @thismorning (sic)"