Opposition leader’s son dead in UK
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AFP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 26, 2009 00:00
LONDON - The severely disabled six-year-old son of David Cameron, leader of Britain's main opposition Conservatives and favorite to become the next prime minister, died yesterday, a party spokesman said.
"It is with great sadness that David and Samantha Cameron must confirm the death of their six-year-old son Ivan," a statement said. "Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, was taken ill overnight and died at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington (in London), early this morning. "David and Samantha would ask that their privacy is respected at this terribly difficult time."
Cameron, 42, spoke freely of his eldest son's illness in interviews and was pictured cradling Ivan while his wife cuddled the couple's two other children on his official Christmas card last year. Cerebral palsy is an incurable disorder in which damage to the brain causes problems with muscle movement and coordination. The state-run National Health Service, or NHS, estimates that one in every 500 children are born with the condition in Britain.
Asked by the Daily Telegraph newspaper last year if he was worried that his son might suddenly die, Cameron said: "You're quite philosophical about it. You know that children like Ivan never make it to old age. You live by the day. But he doesn't want to give up. This little person just wants to keep going."
Cameron, 42, spoke freely of his eldest son's illness in interviews and was pictured cradling Ivan while his wife cuddled the couple's two other children on his official Christmas card last year. Cerebral palsy is an incurable disorder in which damage to the brain causes problems with muscle movement and coordination. The state-run National Health Service, or NHS, estimates that one in every 500 children are born with the condition in Britain.
Asked by the Daily Telegraph newspaper last year if he was worried that his son might suddenly die, Cameron said: "You're quite philosophical about it. You know that children like Ivan never make it to old age. You live by the day. But he doesn't want to give up. This little person just wants to keep going."