1 week Ago
THE family of a Flintshire woman who died suddenly at home have appeared on ITV news saying they believe her tragic death is connected to ‘weight loss drops’ she was taking. Mother of two, Sarah Thompson was tragically found dead in bed by her 16-year-old daughter, Paige at their Connah's Quay home in September. Tributes and poured in to the 34-year-old following her death - which her family think is linked to "weight loss drops".
She had struggled with her weight after after recovering from throat cancer which was diagnosed in 2018. Sarah's voice box was removed and she was left having to breathe through a tube in her neck. This meant it became difficult for her to exercise.
Her sister, Gabriella, told ITV News that after failing to meet the NHS eligibility requirements for licensed weight loss medication, Sarah looked elsewhere and found weight loss drops labelled "fat burning serum". She dropped from 15 and a half stone to 11 stone within a month. "She had a lot more confidence, she felt she could take on the world, she was ready to go out and achieve everything that's held her back for so many years," Gabriella told ITV News.
Days before Sarah’s death, she called her younger sister and was violently ill on the phone - unable to keep anything down. Her sister Gabriella, 26, urged her to go to hospital but she thought she could ‘ride out’ the symptoms. She died days later.
Sarah’s family are still waiting test results to confirm her official cause of death. It is not known where Sarah bought the ‘fat burning serum’ drops but they are available online. “When I took them my whole body was shaking and heart was going and she said ‘Gabby just ride through it, because in the end you’ll be thankful for it," Gabriella said.
“You don’t actually know what’s in them and there’s people taking them to feel better about themselves or numb the pain - but what about people’s families? “I’m never going to see my sister again because of this. Her children are going to grow-up without their mum and it’s not nice. No family should feel the pain we feel.
"I wouldn't wish this pain upon anyone. 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." ITV News arranged for the drops Sarah had bought to be tested. It was found that the drops contained Clenbuterol - a Class C controlled drug that is sometimes used as an image enhancer.
It was developed to alleviate asthma symptoms in horses and is not approved for human use in the UK. A GoFundMe page which was set up to support Sarah's children has raised nearly £4,000 so far..
