Swine flu victim's baby dies

Published on Monday 15 June 2009 20:58

THE premature son of Jacqueline Fleming, the first Briton to die from swine flu, also died today, NHS Greater Glasgow has said.

Baby Jack, the son of Jacqueline and her partner William McCann, died earlier this evening. An NHS spokesman said the baby did not die from swine flu, and did not at any time have the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.

Jacqueline 38, died yesterday at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley, and is believed to have been the first swine flu victim in Europe.

This evening Mr McCann said in a statement: "My beautiful son was born on 1st June 2009, 11 weeks early. He suffered from a number of complications and despite his brave fight he passed away earlier this evening at the Special Care Baby Unit at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley.

"Coming so soon after the death of his mum, this is an extremely distressing and difficult time for our family and I would ask the media to respect our privacy as we try to cope with the loss of Jacqueline and Jack."

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "The death of baby Jack, especially coming so soon after the death of his mother, is a tragedy and I extend my deepest condolences to their family and friends for this unimaginably painful loss."