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awatkins@thekmgroup.co.uk

A dad is desperately trying to find somewhere to live so he can care for his baby son at home as he battles for life.

Doctors have said five-month-old Harry Woodgate needs 24-hour a day care because of his life-threatening health problems. He suffers fits every day and doctors fear the next one could be fatal.

Now his dad Dean Woodgate is trying to find somewhere for himself, his partner of seven years Samantha Warwicker, Harry and their daughter Rhianne, five, to live after their landlord decided to sell-up.

He said: “You have to stay as strong as you can. It’s no good sitting in the corner and crying, is it?

“I was on the train the other day going to see Harry when I thought 'What if he doesn’t live to see Christmas?’

“That was when the tears started to roll.”

An hour after he was born, Harry had an epileptic fit. Since then he has had constant fits and he also stops breathing. One night his heart stopped 18 times but nurses revived him.

After five years in the same basement flat in Windmill Street, Gravesend, Dean and Samantha were served with notice to quit by their landlord because he wants to sell the property.

Samantha has been staying with Harry at the specialist Evelina Children’s Hospital in London ever since he was 11 days old but they now want to bring him home.

Dean said they need a three bedroomed house.

“Doctors have told us it is essential because of all the medical equipment and oxygen cylinders he needs,” Dean said.

Baby Harry’s consultant neurologist, Dr Karine Lascelles, said their present home would not be suitable or safe.

Dean said: “He could go to Demelza House but if he is going to die, I want him to die at home with us all together.”

Dean said he did not have any complaints about his landlord, and recognised the shortage of council properties, but said private landlords were not prepared to rent houses to people on benefits.

A council spokesman said: “The council is very sympathetic to their case. They have enough points to give them high priority.

“Their bids have predominantly been for houses, which are in shorter supply than flats. This is the main reason why they have not been re-housed.”

Technically they were not homeless but were being treated that way because of the circumstances.

“We do sympathise with their very challenging predicament. As well as giving them high priority on the housing register we have offered advice on private renting and offered them assistance through the council’s rent deposit scheme.”