Boy with flu spent three weeks in intensive care

"The parents of a boy who became so unwell with flu he spent three weeks in intensive care are urging other families to get their children vaccinated against the virus. Joel, from Torquay in Devon, was five when he was rushed to Bristol Children's Hospital with a dangerously low heart rate. He later had to have a pacemaker fitted."

""He was continuously on the heart monitor and they saw that he had an infection. They started him on antibiotics. And because of his condition, with Down's syndrome, he wouldn't keep that mask on, so he had to be intubated", said Brian. Joel spent three weeks in intensive care fighting the infection. He was later transferred to the cardiac unit and a pacemaker was fitted."

Joel, a five-year-old from Torquay with Down's syndrome and other health conditions, became unwell with flu in March. He was kept from school for two days but worsened and developed a dangerously low heart rate. He spent two nights at Torbay Hospital before transfer by ambulance to Bristol Children's Hospital. He was intubated, treated with antibiotics and continuously monitored. Joel spent three weeks in intensive care, was later moved to the cardiac unit and fitted with a pacemaker. His parents describe the period as extremely worrying and traumatic and urge vaccination. Flu infections in Devon have risen since the start of 2026.

Read at www.bbc.com