A Greek heiress died of sepsis caused by an insect bite a day after she was apparently discharged from a London hospital.
Marissa Laimou (also known as Lemos) was rushed to University College London Hospital (UCLH) by ambulance after she had visited a clinic on September 10, complaining of dizziness, itching and a high temperature, her family said.
When the 30-year-old arrived at the hospital, tests were carried out by nurses, but she was discharged just four hours later with antibiotics, a family friend claimed.
Ms Laimou was tragically found dead by a housekeeper at the family's townhouse in Knightsbridge, west London, the following day.
A post-mortem has now concluded Ms Laimou’s died from “sepsis arising from an insect bite with underlying vulnerability due to the effects of chemotherapy and HLH.”
Despite the post-mortem results, Ms Laimou’s family — one of the biggest dynasties in Greece’s shipping industry — are still demanding answers as they remain unclear on what insect Ms Laimou was bitten by, when and where it happened and why she was discharged by UCLH.
A relative told the Daily Mail: “We are all utterly shattered and devastated, there are no words. We lost our beautiful Marissa, the pain is unbearable. It is crucial we get to the bottom of it.
“Didn’t they know what a person with all this vulnerable medical history could get sepsis straight away? Sepsis spreads very quickly it can kill you in few hours if it is treated straight away.”
Days before her death, Ms Laimou’s relatives said she reported dizziness, itching and a temperature to medics at two hospitals in the capital.
Despite being rushed to A&E in an ambulance on one occasion, the former Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts student was discharged both times and later died at home.
She previously fought breast cancer and had an extremely rare blood disease, but her lovedones claimed she was back to being “perfectly healthy”.
The circumstances around Ms Laimou’s death began after she had recently returned from a holiday with her family on the Greek resort island of Porto Cheli, it has been reported.
Her family have been left “shattered” by her sudden death and are now reportedly planning to take legal action.
UCLH said in a previous statement: “We were extremely sad to hear of the death of Marissa Lemos.
“We offer our deep condolences to her family and friends at this sad and difficult time.
“We have initiated an internal investigation as is the normal process for an unexpected death. We await the result of the post-mortem, and we will provide any information required from the coroner’s court.”
