Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson’s wife, Lady Joan Sarah Drummond Branson, passed away on November 24 last year at The Lister Hospital at the age of 80 due to a blood clot following a fall-induced back injury two weeks earlier. Despite the tragedy, the family expressed that they are not seeking to assign blame for her death.
An upcoming inquest will examine whether Lady Branson should have been prescribed blood thinners and if she was wearing anti-clot stockings at the time of her passing. The family, represented by Sir Richard and their daughter Holly, emphasized that they aim to help other families by potentially learning from this experience.
The inquest, to be held later this year, will investigate whether Lady Branson had been using Thrombo-Embolus Deterrent (TED) stockings, which help prevent blood clots, and if a prescription of the anti-coagulant Heparin could have prevented her death, given her history of clots.
An expert hematologist will present findings at the inquest scheduled for September, shedding light on Lady Branson’s medical history dating back to at least 2010. Sir Richard previously shared details of her health struggles, including a severe clotting incident in 2018 that endangered her life but was successfully treated.
Sir Richard announced Lady Joan’s passing on Instagram, expressing his deep sorrow and praising her as his partner for 50 years, a wonderful mother, and grandmother. The couple’s enduring love story began in 1976 when they met at The Manor, a recording studio built by Sir Richard. Despite initial challenges, their relationship blossomed into a lifelong partnership.
Tragically, the couple faced loss early on when their first child was stillborn in 1979. Joan later dedicated herself to supporting premature birth charities as part of her philanthropic endeavors. Today, their children Holly and Sam, as well as five grandchildren, carry on Lady Joan’s legacy.
