Our world changed forever when we tragically lost our little boy, Tyler,
Mikala Hatfield, Director at Martin & Co Welwyn Garden City is raising awareness for SUCD UK Mikala tells “In November 2024, our world changed forever when we tragically lost our little boy, Tyler, without warning. He was just three years old—full of energy, laughter, cheekiness, and joy. His sudden passing was something no parent could ever prepare for, and the pain of that moment continues to shape every day of our lives. In the months that followed, we found ourselves facing a type of loss we had never heard of before: Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).
SUDC UK has been a lifeline for us since the day Tyler died. They are the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness, supporting families, and funding essential research into these heartbreaking and unexplained deaths in children aged 1–18 years. From the moment we reached out, they offered compassion, understanding, and a safe space to navigate the overwhelming grief and unanswered questions that follow an SUDC loss.
Through counselling support, family connections, remembrance initiatives, and helping us understand the medical processes involved, SUDC UK has walked beside us at every step. They have made sure we never felt alone in the darkest moments, and their guidance has brought comfort on days when hope felt impossible. Their work has not only supported us emotionally but has helped us feel that Tyler’s memory can live on through awareness, fundraising, and community events that bring people together in his name.
Because of Tyler, and because of the support from SUDC UK, we are committed to raising awareness so other families affected by SUDC can receive the same care, and so more research can help bring answers to something that remains so tragically unexplained”.
Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC)
SUDC refers to the sudden and unexpected death of a child aged 1–18 years that remains unexplained, even after thorough investigation. In the UK, around 40 children are affected every year — the heartbreaking equivalent of 1–2 seemingly healthy children dying every fortnight. Many simply go to sleep and never wake up.
SUDC UK is a registered charity dedicated to raising awareness, supporting research, and providing compassionate help for the families affected by this devastating and little-known category of loss.
Supporting Families Through the Unthinkable. SUDC UK offers support from the very earliest moments of sudden child loss and at any point afterwards. No family should face this alone. The charity is there to listen, to talk through questions, and to provide guidance during an unimaginably difficult time — helping families feel just a little more supported and understood.
Your donation can help SUDC UK continue its vital work: offering family support, funding research, and increasing awareness to help protect children in the future.
Thank you for helping make a difference.
