EastEnders actress in baby tragedy

Former EastEnders actress Elaine Lordan was devastated last night after the death of her baby son.

One-year- old James, who had battled ill-health since his birth, died in hospital on Sunday night.

Miss Lordan and the baby's father Peter Manuel were at his side.

The family had celebrated James's first birthday last Tuesday.

The little boy was also among the party of family and friends who attended the couple's wedding in Islington, North London, last Thursday.

Miss Lordan and Mr Manuel had been confident their son was 'over the worst', a close friend said.

His death 'was totally unexpected despite the health problems he had had'. The couple, who have been together 12 years, were told shortly before he was born that James had a diaphragmatic hernia, a potentially life-threatening condition.

It occurs when a part of the stomach protrudes through an opening in the diaphragm, and can become deadly if it expands into the chest cavity, crowding the lungs and preventing growth.

James, who was born prematurely, spent several months in hospital before being allowed home.

He had a series of operations and the couple were preparing for him to have more surgery next year.

He deteriorated on Sunday at the family home in North London and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

He died hours later from complicationslinked to his condition. On his first birthday last week a friend of Miss Lordan said: 'She's just so happy and relieved that James is out of hospital and at home with her and Peter.

'He's doing really well now and things are fine with him.

'He's got to have another operation but it's all part of his schedule of treatment so it's something that Elaine and Peter are already prepared for.'

Last night Miss Lordan's agent Kate Whaley issued a statement on the couple's behalf.

'It is with tremendous sadness that we can confirm that Elaine Lordan and Peter Manuel's son James Manuel passed away on Sunday. Elaine, Pete and their family and friends are devastated at their loss.' Miss Lordan's most recent TV role was on the series I'm A Celebrity. . . Get Me Out Of Here! But she did not make it past the first day, becoming ill in the Australian jungle and being admitted to hospital.

The producers decided to withdraw her from the programme on health grounds on day two.

Miss Lordan has already faced tragedy this year.

In March, her mother Bernadette, who had battled with depression, was killed when she fell under a train on the London Underground.

And her father Garrett was diagnosed with the degenerative brain condition progressive supranuclear palsy.

Miss Lordan played Lynne Slater in EastEnders before being written out in 2003.