Jenny Taft last night told how sheecognised the hallmark signs of sepsis – an illness known as the ‘silent killer’ in her son Freddie after reading a story about it in the Daily Mail

A toddler's life was saved after his mother read about the warning signs of sepsis in the Daily Mail.

Jenny Taft last night told how she was profoundly affected by the case of William Mead, a 12-month-old who was featured on the front page of the Mail in January.

So when her own son Freddie fell ill just three months later she recognised the hallmark signs of sepsis – an illness known as the ‘silent killer’.

Freddie’s GP was puzzled by his symptoms, but Mrs Taft, 28, an accountant from Walsall, raised the prospect that he might be suffering sepsis.

The GP agreed and he was rushed to hospital – where the two-year-old was swiftly and effectively treated with antibiotics.

‘I remember reading about William on the front page of the Mail,’ said Mrs Taft.

SYMPTOMS OF SEPSIS Go to A&E immediately or call 999 if your child has any of the following: Looks mottled, bluish or pale Is very lethargic or difficult to wake Feels abnormally cold to touch Is breathing very fast Has a rash that doesn’t fade when you press it Has a fit or convulsion Source: NHS/UK Sepsis Trust Advertisement

‘When Freddie became ill it seemed so similar. He went downhill really quickly, he was listless, and he had this purple rash.

‘I asked the GP, “Could it be sepsis?” She said take him straight to hospital.’

The case is the clearest example yet of the power of the Mail’s ‘End the Sepsis Scandal’ campaign, which began in January.

It was triggered by circumstances surrounding the death of William, who died in 2014 after a catalogue of errors, misdiagnoses and missed opportunities by doctors and NHS helpline staff.

An estimated 44,000 lives each year are lost to sepsis, yet few people have even heard of the condition.

The campaign has the backing of Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, who yesterday launched a major drive to raise awareness of sepsis across the NHS.

He said: ‘The Mail has rightly championed this cause – highlighting the cases of countless families that have been affected by sepsis.

Miss Taft cradles her son Freddie as he battled sepsis after being admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital

Freddie’s GP was puzzled by his symptoms, but Mrs Taft, 28, an accountant from Walsall, raised the prospect that he might be suffering sepsis

'By raising levels of public awareness, we’ll save lives in the future – and the tragedy of what happened to William Mead will not have been in vain.’

Mrs Taft had never even heard of sepsis before reading about William Mead. ‘If it wasn’t for Melissa and William’s story I would never have spotted the sign – I am so grateful,’ she said.

‘The doctors said that if I hadn’t brought Freddie into the paediatric intensive care unit that day he would not have been here.