Kevin Webster is dealt a cruel blow in Corrie next week when his young son Jack falls dangerously ill and is left fighting for his life.
It all kicks off early in the week when Jack tells his big sister Sophie that he’s not feeling well enough to go to school.
Thinking Jack is trying to get one over on her, Sophie tells him that he really needs to go but he is soon sent home because he’s too poorly.
Seb and Faye later find him slumped in the house and clearly very unwell.
They carry him out and are apprehended by Ali who tells them they need to get him to A&E as soon as possible.
Ali’s advice is overlooked however and a doctor at the medical centre confirms Jack has a viral infection. Sophie is relieved when she’s told she can take him home.
But when Ali calls in later to check on the little lad he notices Jack’s fingers and toes are discoloured and calls an ambulance.
When Kevin, Sophie, Sally and Tim finally speak to a doctor at the hospital, they’re shocked to hear Jack has sepsis and the next 24 hours will be crucial!
As Kevin keeps a vigil beside his little boy’s bed, Sophie blames herself for Jack’s illness. Which she probably doesn’t need on top of blaming herself for Aidan Connor killing himself.
Later, Sophie – who will have a new love interest joining the ITV soap soon – confronts Rana about how the medical centre missed Jack’s symptoms and when Rana defends herself Sophie slaps her round the face!
Furious Sophie then heads over to the solicitors’ office and tells Adam Barlow she wants to sue the medical centre for negligence.
A spokesperson from The UK Sepsis Trust previously told ED! “Jack is then rushed to hospital and sedated to support his organs. A doctor confirms he has sepsis and his father Kevin is faced with a difficult decision that no parent should have to make.”
It has been suggested in the Mirror that the decision Kevin is faced with could be the prospect of amputating his son’s leg to keep him alive.
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Coronation Street has been working closely with the UK Sepsis Trust to make sure the storyline is accurate. The organisation’s chief executive Dr Ron Daniels has said: “Stories like Jack’s remind us of the devastating cost of sepsis.
“The condition affects 250,000 people every year in the UK and claims 44,000 lives – more than breast, bowel and prostate cancer, and road accidents combined.
“It’s incredible Coronation Street is raising the profile of a condition which affects so many people yet until now has been poorly recognised.”
Most recently the soap has tackled taboo subjects like suicide and male rape in the hope it will get people taking about these subjects more openly.
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Coronation Street airs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV. Times may vary due to World Cup fixtures.