2005 South Wales E. Coli O157 Outbreak - Mason Jones

Mason Jones

The most tragic consequence of the E.coli was the death of 5-year old Mason Jones from Deri, Caerphilly. He had attended his local primary school and contracted the disease via a meal served at the school. Mason was sent home from school on Wednesday 21 September feeling ill, shortly after his elder brother had recovered from the same illness. His condition gradually worsened over the next few days. The out-of-hours health service didn’t react immediately to Mason’s worsening condition, but he was admitted to hospital on Sunday 25 September, where he was diagnosed with renal failure and transferred to a specialist unit in Bristol on Monday 26 September. Despite intensive care, Mason died on Tuesday 4 October.

Since his death, Mason’s mother, Sharon Mills, has campaigned to help raise awareness of the dangers of E.coli O157. In an emotional statement to the press, she said “I just want people to know how bad this bacterium is, and how powerless I felt standing by the side of him watching him die from it”.

A memorial garden was established in his honour at his primary school in Deri.