THE tragic story of a South Lakeland family devastated by the sudden loss of their child was raised in Parliament.

South Lakes MP Tim Farron called for urgent action to prevent febrile seizures in children through screening young people with a family history of cardiac issues. 

Mr Farron's constituents from South Lakeland named 'Charlotte and Andy' spoke to the MP about their son Wilfred. Wilfred was just two years and ten months old when he died around a year ago. 

Mr Farron addressed Westminister Hall, saying: "Charlotte and Andy refer to Wilfred as a ‘vibrant, energetic little boy who had a vivacious and fearless lust for life’. She goes on to say, 'the shock that reverberates into every aspect of your life when your child dies unexpectedly and suddenly is unimaginable’.

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He continued: “Unimaginable it is to those of us who have not personally experienced that tragedy. As I seek to honour Wilfred, perhaps the best thing that I can do is speak briefly about actions that could spare other families from experiencing the grief and tragedy with which Wilfred’s family continue to live.”

Mr Farron called for a pathway for NHS Trusts which would allow them to deal with children who suffer febrile seizures and investigate the source of the issue.

He said: "This is a devastating issue that we have to be doing everything in our power to combat.

“To experience the loss of a child and have that loss left unexplainable must be prevented at all costs. NHS trusts should be granted the resources that would allow them to investigate febrile seizures in infants and young people."

Mr Farron also made reference to the charity 'Cardiac Risk in the Young' (CRY) which carries out cardiac screenings of young people at schools in the north-west of England: "Thousands of people have been assessed by Cardiac Risk in the Young, which is a wonderful charity that works across the north-west and further – indeed, it has done sessions in Kendal.

“I encourage the Minister to look into how we can screen young people particularly if there is any family history, to ensure that we do not lose them to undiagnosed heart conditions.”