BBC Breakfast host 'heartbroken' as guest breaks down in tears over son's tragic death

BBC Breakfast host Luxmy Gopal couldn't hide her feelings after watching the heartbreaking scenes of mum Sammy Knowles, 40, who broke down after the tragic loss of her son Jaxon.

Sammy and her husband Jordan appeared on the show for a pre-recorded video to highlight the risks of meningitis after losing four-year-old Jaxon to the illness.

Through tears, Sammy recounted the traumatic and final moments she spent with her son Jaxon, during which her child had developed a rash.

After spotting the "burst blood vessel" type rash, she immediately phoned for an ambulance, with the team of medics telling her the crushing news on-route to hospital that her son had "suspected meningitis".

Medics advised that a team of 15 people would be waiting for them at the hospital and Sammy said her "heart just sank" as she struggled to carry on discussing the tragic ordeal through tears.

Unable to hold back her tears, Jaxon's mum emotionally explained: "When we got there they were waiting and they let us go with him, they didn't stop us but by the time we got from the house to the hospital the rash had just ravaged his body."

Sadly, within hours of Sammy's call to the emergency services, Jaxon tragically passed away at Rotherham Hospital. Despite the parents' grief, they want to now bravely speak about their experience, in hope of raising awareness and saving others.

Jaxon's parents have now set up a memory fund in their son's name, with all the funds going to the charity, Meningitis Now.

BBC Breakfast hosts Ben Thompson and Luxmy had been watching the emotional scenes back in the studio and were hoping to get more clarity on the situation from expert Dr Tom Nutt, CEO of Meningitis Now.

Luxmy opened the interview commenting: "Such a heartbreaking story, every parent's worst nightmare." She then went on to ask: "Part of this, is the speed at which this happened, is that usual?"

The CEO responded: "Yes it is, one of the most devastating aspects of meningitis is the disease is the speed at which it takes effect on the body and as you've heard in the terrible case of Jaxon just now is that meningitis can kill within 24 hours."

He warned: "Sadly one in ten people affected by bacterial meningitis will die. Unfortunately Jaxon's case is tragic though it is one that we hear day in, day out at Meningitis Now."

Ben pointed out to the expert that Jaxon's parents "had done everything right" spotting the signs and symptoms quickly and getting him to hospital. As he asked the doctor: "What can people do here?"

The expert explained: "Ultimately, there is good news and that in the long run there are vaccines that can prevent meningitis so parents of young children should be aware that there are vaccines on the NHS and mostly those are done through GPs and schools so if you're ever offered a vaccine for your child or yourself then obviously the best thing to do is to take that up because it could save a life."

BBC Breakfast airs every day on BBC One from 6am.