IT has been a tale of two lockdowns for a south Essex family who have gone through a rollercoaster of emotions in recent months.

The family celebrated as Dottie Winstanley was brought into the world at Southend Hospital on May 13, but the second lockdown has not brought quite so much fortune.

Six-year-old Austin, who was born prematurely along with identical twin brother Freddie, underwent brain surgery for a fifth time at Great Ormond Street Hospital on Thursday.

Despite the setback, Austin – who has cerebral palsy – has remained in high spirits.

Austin’s dad Bradley, 41, said: “When Austin was born, he had a bleed on the brain and he has now had brain surgery five times.

“On this occasion, we knew he wasn’t 100 per cent and he was sent home from school.

“We rushed to Southend Hospital and, after a CT scan, he needed to go to Great Ormond Street Hospital.

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“But he has been happy and he has always had that mentality.

“He isn’t fazed by surgery and he is a warrior. The worst thing for him was having a Covid test.”

Austin’s brain surgery has come just a matter of months after seeing his baby sister Dottie for the first time.

Dottie’s birth came during the initial lockdown period and, despite these strange times due to the coronavirus pandemic, it brought sheer joy to the Winstanley household.

Bradley, of Shoebury Road, Thorpe Bay, said: “Because of lockdown, we didn’t really know what to expect when Dottie was being born.

“The Southend Hospital staff were brilliant and, other than having to wear a mask, it was great.

“Austin and Freddie were besotted when they saw Dottie for the first time and it has been amazing becoming a family of five. But it’s gone from being an amazing time for us to being worried about Austin in hospital.”