Tragedy for Cameron as son dies

David Cameron's disabled son Ivan died today after being taken ill overnight.

The six-year-old, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, died early this morning at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington.

Mr Cameron and his wife Samantha today asked for privacy as they attempted to come to terms with their son's death during this "terribly difficult time".

Ivan was the Camerons' first child, born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in London on April 8, 2002.

He suffered his first seizure within weeks and was in and out of hospitals all of his life.

The couple have two other children, Nancy, five, and Arthur, three.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: "It is with great sadness that David and Samantha Cameron must confirm the death of their six-year-old son Ivan."

Ivan was severely disabled and needed 24-hour care.

On learning of his son's illness, Mr Cameron has said in the past: "It hits you like a freight train because all the expectations you have for your child change immediately."

One of the first messages of condolence came from Prime Minister Gordon Brown whose own son James Fraser suffers from cystic fibrosis and whose daughter Jennifer Jane, died 10 days after birth.

Mike Flower, West Midlands Conservative spokesman who has accompanied the Tory leader during recent trips to the region, said: "This is really, really sad news.

"When you spend time with David you realise he is just a normal guy like the rest of us who is always on the phone to his wife talking about the children. He always tries to get back home every evening to tuck them up in bed."

Ivan Cameron suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy which caused a range of disabilities. There are several types of cerebral palsy and how badly a person is affected in their daily lives depends on which part of the brain is damaged.