In an exclusive interview with ITV News’ Health Correspondent Rebecca Barry, Sarah Thompson’s sister Gabriella spoke of their family’s heartbreak
The family of a mother-of-two have told ITV News they believe her sudden death could be linked to illegal “weight loss drops”.
Sarah Thompson, from Connah’s Quay in Wales, was found dead at home by her teenage daughter in September this year.
The 34-year-old had struggled with her weight after recovering from throat cancer.
Diagnosed in 2018, Sarah’s voice box was removed and she was left having to breathe through a tube in her neck. As a result, it became difficult to exercise.
“She became very depressed about the way she looked,” Sarah’s sister Gabriella told ITV News in an exclusive interview.
After failing to meet the NHS eligibility requirements for licenced weight loss medication, Sarah looked elsewhere and found weight loss drops labelled “fat burning serum”.
She purchased the drops in the summer and rapidly lost over four stone.
“She had a lot more confidence, she felt she could take on the world,” said Gabriella.
Sarah even gave a bottle of the weight loss drops to her sister, but they soon caused her heart palpitations and tremors so she stopping taking them.
After 5 weeks of taking the drops, Sarah too became unwell, repeatedly vomiting and unable to keep down food or liquid.
Just days later, Sarah was found dead in her bed by her 16-year-old daughter.
“I wouldn’t wish this pain upon anyone,” Gabriella told ITV News.
“My sister was young, she was 34-years-old. She had her whole life ahead of her, she had so many things planned. She had ambitions – but she’s not going to be able to do that.”
“No family should feel the pain that we feel.”
The weight loss drops Sarah was taking are not to be confused with the authorised weight loss medications available on the NHS.
ITV News arranged for one of the bottles from Sarah’s house to be tested in a laboratory.
The results show the bottle contained Clenbuterol, which is a Class C controlled drug not approved for human use in the UK.
The maximum penalty for supplying the drug is 14 years in prison.
ITV News has found drugs containing Clenbuterol are being sold online with different branding and flavours – claiming to help with weight loss.
Head of Biosciences for the School of Human Sciences at London Metropolitan University, Dr Simon Dryden told ITV News Clenbuterol causes a range of serious side effects which can be fatal – including breathlessness, changes to heart rhythm, dizziness.
He said: “It causes breathlessness, your heart rhythm might be out. All sorts of other problems – dizziness – if you have high blood pressure or any other cardiac problems then of course it can actually cause a heart attack.”
Sarah’s family are adamant she would not have taken the weight loss drops if she knew the risks involved.
Gabriella says her family are still waiting for a cause of her sister’s death but believe the drops are to blame
Gabriella said: “As much as she wanted be skinny, I don’t think she would’ve taken them if she knew exactly what was in them, and there was a risk of her never seeing her children again. I know she wouldn’t have.”
Sarah’s death only happened in September, and her family are still awaiting test results to confirm the official cause – but they believe the drops were to blame.
“I’m never going to see my sister again because of this. Her children are going to grow up without their mum. No family should feel the pain we feel.”
Sarah’s family have chosen to share their story with ITV News to warn others of the risks of unregulated weight loss drugs.
North Wales police told ITV News that they attended at the time of the report and have submitted all necessary paperwork to the coroner.
A government spokesperson said: “Every death from the misuse of drugs is a tragedy for those who have lost their lives, our thoughts are with their friends and families.
“Through our mission driven government, we will take preventative public health measures to tackle the biggest killers in society – including drug misuse – and better support people live longer, healthier lives.”
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