Havant parents want to show people how serious asthma can be after their 11-year-old daughter died from the condition

On February 22, 2017, Kathleen Talman got the call that her daughter Demi was struggling to breathe.

The 11-year-old from Havant was visiting family in Cosham when she had an asthma attack, a condition which causes airways to narrow and swell.

Mum Kathleen said: ‘I got the call from my sister and I felt sick. 

‘I rushed down there and we decided to drive to Queen Alexandra Hospital because it was so close but we saw an ambulance parked up and they helped us as she was starting to go into cardiac arrest.

‘The last words she said to me were “Mum am I going to die?”’

Dad Phil, who also has asthma, said: ‘When I got to the hospital she was fitting so they had to put her in coma. It was horrible seeing our child in that way and the doctors told us there was nothing more they could do and that her brain would no longer be her.’

On February 25 the pair made the heartbreaking decision to switch off Demi’s life support.

Kathleen said: ‘No parent should have to make that decision. We have no idea what caused her to have an attack that day. We were the three musketeers and then she was gone.’ 

Phil added: ‘We had been to the hospital with her before but we thought the asthma was now more under control. It is scary how quickly an asthma attack can happen when you are least expecting it.

‘I don’t think people know how serious it is.

Now they want people to realise the seriousness of asthma and have signed a petition to get asthma medication made free on the NHS.

Phil said: ‘If diabetes sufferers can get insulin for free and heroin addicts can get methadone for free then I think asthma sufferers should get their ventolins for free.

‘Why should we have to pay to breathe?’

To help Asthma UK in its mission to cure asthma and support sufferers, Phil and Kathleen have held a charity football match for the last two years raising thousands of pounds and informing people more about the condition.

Commercial glazer Phil said: ‘Demi was football mad and she loved Manchester United. She always wanted us to create a football team and after she died we did.

‘We have raised over £5,000 in the last few years from that and other fundraisers for Asthma UK and Chestnut Tree House which was a hospice that gave us lots of support after Demi died.’

The 36-year-old manages the Supershooters made up of family and friends and this year Kathleen has been trying her hand at managing a women’s team which will also compete on the day.

Kathleen, 38, added: ‘I think from everything that has happened the generosity and support we have had from our friends, family and even strangers has been really amazing.’

A spokeswoman from Asthma UK, said: ‘This is a really tragic story and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time. Sadly, in the UK three people die each day from an asthma attack.

‘At Asthma UK we provide advice and support to help anyone with asthma. Our asthma nurse specialists can be contacted on 0300 222 5800 (Mon-Fri, 9am- 5pm) or chat with our asthma nurses via WhatsApp on 07378 606 728.

The charity football day will be held at Demi’s former school, Park Community School on Saturday, May 11 from midday until 4pm.

For more information about asthma visit asthma.org.uk