Boy nearly dies after flu leaves him with pacemaker

By Filipa Gaspar

A young boy nearly died after catching the flu, leaving him three weeks in intensive care.

Joel was five when he was rushed to Bristol Children's Hospital with a dangerously low heart rate.

He spent three weeks in intensive care fighting the flu and was later transferred to the cardiac unit.

The boy, who has Down's syndrome, had to have a pacemaker fitted.

His father Brian D'Souza, from lives in Torquay, Devon, said what Joel went through was "scary and traumatic" for the whole family.

And he is now urging families to get their children vaccinated against the deadly virus.

He continued: "His flu infection led to a serious hospital admission, time in intensive care, and weeks of treatment.

"Joel is up to date with all his other vaccinations, and we believe that if he had received his flu vaccination in time, his hospital admission could have been avoided.

"Our advice to other parents is to take the wonderful opportunity available with all the vaccinations on offer for free on the NHS.

"Keep yourselves and your children vaccinated to protect them from infection and avoid hospital admissions.

"It is the best way to keep your family safe."

Joel's parents said he was a happy little boy but started to feel unwell in March last year.

They kept him away from school for two days but, by the weekend, Joel was feeling worse.

Joel was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital by ambulance with his father at his side.

Brian said: "His symptoms were like a body and a raised temperature which we were trying to treat at home with paracetamol.

"On the Saturday morning we called the out-of-hours GP and he was checked.

"The symptoms at the GP's didn't seem to be so bad but they were concerned about his heart rate and we went to the A&E in the pediatric section and he was checked there by the pediatric team."

Joel was taken to Torbay Hospital where he spent two days and two nights.

But despite the pediatric team's best efforts his heart rate was "constantly very low", said Brian.

The boy, who's now 6, was taken to Bristol Children's Hospital by ambulance with his father at his side.

There he was continuously on the heart monitor and doctors found that he had an infection.

Joel spent three weeks in intensive care fighting the infection.

He was later transferred to the cardiac unit and a pacemaker was fitted.

Joel has now fully recovered from his infection, although he must continue to wear a pacemaker to ensure a regular heartbeat.

Brian said he believed if Joel had received his flu vaccine on time - his admission to hospital could have been avoided.

"It was really scary and we do think that if he had all his vaccinations and all the precautions taken in time his hospital admission could have been avoided so it was difficult for us as a family," Brian added.

"And a traumatic experience for Joel himself."

The children's flu vaccine is offered to children aged two to three, school-aged children and children with certain long-term health conditions.

Dr. Alasdair Wood, Consultant in Health Protection and Vaccine Preventable Disease Lead at UKHSA South West, said the region had one of the best vaccination rates in the country, but there were still some groups for whom take up was low.

He said: "Vaccination will help prevent your child from having to endure the misery and devastation these diseases can cause and save countless lives every year.

"It is really encouraging to see the South West leading the country for whooping cough vaccination in pregnancy.

"In 2023, 60% of mothers took up this vaccine; now in 2025, it is 80%. That means more and more babies are being born with protection against this potentially deadly disease.

"If you are pregnant and approaching 20 weeks, please speak to your midwife or GP about getting your whooping cough vaccine.

"We know parents want the best for their children, but busy lives can make it hard to find the time.

"That is why we are urging families across the South West to check their child's vaccination record now and book any missed appointments.

"Giving your child this protection is one of the most important gifts you can offer for a healthy start to 2026."