Three-year-old dies suddenly after goodnight wish

A heartbroken mum whose three-year-old son died from sudden infant death syndrome has revealed his last words to her.

Devastated Jasmine Shortland remembers the night a couple of weeks ago when her “bright and smiling” son Bryan-Andrew Lock was put to bed, never dreaming they could have the tragic last words they shared, reports The Mirror.

Now she says she is living every parent’s worst nightmare, saying: “I just can’t believe he’s gone.”

The 23-year-old mum of two says she has to keep everything together for the sake of her young family and partner Josh Westcott, 20.

Recalling the horrifying night when Bryan died from the condition, otherwise known as ‘cot-death’, she says: “At about 8.15am we were awoken by a loud banging on the front door.

“It was my step-dad David. He was crying, saying: ‘Bryan’s gone’.

“I just fell on the floor screaming and crying.”

Bryan and his brother had been staying at his grandma’s for a few days.

The brothers were staying with their nan because Jasmine thought Bryan could have mumps and didn’t want her youngest son, Ivan, who is just four months old, to become infected with the highly-contagious condition.

“He’d been to the doctor because his face was swollen and we were told it was suspected mumps,” Jasmine says.

The night before he died he said “Goodnight – I love you” to his mum on the phone.

“I just broke down when they told us he’d gone,” she says.

“Josh and I collapsed on the floor and I was just screaming.

“You just can’t explain to people what it feels like – I have to go on because of the other two, but it’s like a huge hole where something’s missing.”

In the UK, just under 300 babies die suddenly and unexpectedly every year.

Most SIDs deaths happen during the first six months of a baby’s life – so Bryan is a more unusual case.

Infants born prematurely or with a low birthweight are at greater risk. SIDS also tends to be slightly more common in baby boys.

Share your comments below.

Image via gofundme

20 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 28 Aug 2021
    8:15 am
hhmm ….So Bryan had a swollen face and they suspected mumps and then he passed away in his sleep? have a read that right? Yet they are calling it SID’s? I feel like I need more information with this story

- - jodiev1980 said
  - 11 Sep 2016
    6:18 pm
I didn’t realise toddlers could die of SIDS. I am so deeply sorry for this family.

- - ella12 said
  - 29 Aug 2016
    2:43 pm
Oh my goodness, this is just so upsetting and horrific. My thoughts are with the family.

- - mom90758 said
  - 29 Aug 2016
    1:50 pm
So sad. I can’t even imagine how terrible the parents and the all family may feel. 🙁

- - rovermum said
  - 29 Aug 2016
    9:33 am
This is so sad and tragic. I was surprised to hear toddlers could die of SIDS. I thought it was only babies. My thoughts are with this family.

- - mom171278 said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    4:45 pm
Not SIDS if he was unwell. SIDS is only used after thorough autopsy excludes any underlying illness. Just died in his sleep poor little thing.

- - VernaB said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    2:42 pm
My heart goes out to this young family.

- - tessie said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    2:00 pm
My deepest sympathy to the family. I was shocked to see he died from SIDS. It would have been so unexpected as I thought only babies suffered from the condition. RIP Bryan

- - mom112217 said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    9:45 am
My thoughts and prayers go out to the parents,very sad.

- - mom172741 said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    8:41 am
So tragic for the whole family.

- - mom91814 said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    5:00 am
My condolences to his family may his soul rest in peace

- - mom134803 said
  - 26 Aug 2016
    2:52 am
Cot death at age 3 sure is very rare !
My thoughts & prayers go out to the family, they must be devastated !

- - mom101628 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    9:58 pm
So unusual for SIDS at 3 yo. Bet his illness would have helped this to happen. So sad for all the family.

- - june11 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    8:29 pm
It sounds as though It may not have been just Mumps.
Would a blood test have shown the presence of mumps?

- - Melissa89 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    4:36 pm
That is absolutely heartbreaking

- - mom81879 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    2:15 pm
Cot death at age 3, oh no. I’m guessing him being sick probably pushed things a long. What a shock and such a tragedy

- - mom93821 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    1:56 pm
Tragic – sending every sympathy to the family.
- mom93821 replied
  
  26 Aug 2016 , 5:58 am
  Important to keep raising funds for this worthwhile cause.
- - nealsq said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    12:53 pm
how devastating for them, so sad

- - mom160421 said
  - 25 Aug 2016
    12:35 pm
My deepest condolences to this family and to all families who lose children in this way. So sad.