Anya Sousa, 41, and Hugo Sousa, 45, from Sheffield, described the death of their 16-month-old son Leonardo, known as Leo, as their 'worst nightmare' after he displayed common cold-like symptoms including a runny nose. Leo died suddenly in his sleep on January 1, 2024.
Tragedy unfolds after family holiday
In the days leading up to Leo's death, the entire family – including their daughter Sienna, now six – had colds after returning from a holiday in Portugal. Anya, a beauty therapist, attributed Leo's lack of energy and lethargy to him feeling 'under the weather'. On New Year's Eve, the family visited a park where Leo seemed 'a bit quiet'. Hugo, a restaurant manager, played hide-and-seek with Leo before leaving for work at 3pm. His final memory of his son: 'He was just lying on the living room floor, playing. It was just like any other day.'
That evening, Leo vomited after dinner, but Anya did not consider it unusual given he was 'so snotty'. She gave him milk later and he seemed 'absolutely fine'. Anya took Leo and Sienna to her mother Diane Middleton's house, where Diane agreed to give Leo paracetamol suspension for his symptoms before bedtime.
Discovery and emergency response
At 8am the next morning, Sienna came to Diane and said she couldn't 'wake Leo up'. Diane found Leo 'not breathing and cold', immediately called emergency services, and was instructed to perform CPR. Anya and Hugo were contacted and arrived within 10 minutes to find the road cordoned off by police, with Leo already in an ambulance. Hugo said: 'I didn't know what to do, so I just froze.' Anya recalled: 'I remember being next to my son and I've never seen a dead body before, let alone my own child.'
Police escorted the parents to the hospital, where they were permitted to see Leo once more. Hugo stated: 'This was my worst nightmare.' Anya explained: 'They asked if I wanted to hold my baby and I did, but then I completely freaked out. And then I felt guilty that I couldn't hold my own baby... it was just absolutely horrendous.'
Post-mortem reveals Strep A
Within a week, an initial post-mortem found no obvious life-ending signs like choking, suffocation, or a heart problem. Hugo said: 'They couldn't see anything.' Five months later, in May 2024, a comprehensive coroner's report identified Streptococcus A (Strep A) in Leo's blood. Anya said a pathologist informed her: 'He should have been a lot more ill – there should have been a lot more symptoms.'
According to the NHS, Strep A symptoms are most commonly mild – including flu-like symptoms, a sore throat, and a rash – but can occasionally develop into something far more serious.
Fundraising for SUDC UK
Following Leo's death, the couple's key worker introduced them to SUDC UK, a charity supporting those who have experienced the sudden unexpected death of a child. They received counselling and connected with other parents, which Anya described as 'really helpful'. Two years on, the couple felt emotionally ready to raise funds by completing a 50km Ultra Challenge Walk in the Peak District on July 4, 2026. Together with six friends and family members, they raised over £10,000.
Anya said: 'We did this to support other families that are affected. I think the main thing we want to do is to raise awareness, increase funding for research, and for more people to know that support is there.' Hugo added: 'I just looked to the sky and said, "I love you."'
