This is the first picture of the hygiene-conscious vegan mother who died from a stroke caused by an E coli infection.
Laura Farmer, 46, died in April this year after being diagnosed with Hemolytic–uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing E Coli.
The mother-of-one was thought to be recovering when she suffered an unexpected stroke and died at a London hospital.
At an inquest into her death the senior coroner for Inner North London, Mary Hassell, criticised the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) for their ‘inaction’ in trying to find the source of the infection and issued a Prevention of Future Deaths report.
Her husband Steve paid tribute to his wife of 14 years in a heartfelt post on social media soon after her death while neighbours of the family from Godalming in Surrey described her as being devoted to her son Harry.
In his emotional post Steve described their life of adventure together.
He wrote: ‘Well l am going to brag (about) the last 14 years I spent with a powerhouse of a woman….. who I sold a bike too, our first date was a run, a few months later I proposed (the ring didn’t fit!!) we saved and got married our way.
‘We travelled the world, we bought a house, she taught me to scuba dive, we learnt to ski.
‘She gave birth to Harry, a daredevil of fun and kindness and we began our next episode.
‘I opened many a bottle of fizz for her, she called it attitude changer, sundowner or just because!!
‘We made up parenting as we went, that’s a lie she researched it, wrote list and smashed it out the park.’
Neighbours of the Farmer’s terraced home said they were stunned by her death earlier this year.
One said:’ It was just so sad. They are a lovely family and no one could quite believe what had happened to her.
‘She was always so friendly.’
In her ruling the coroner said Laura was very conscious about food preparation and hygiene.
She said: ‘Laura Farmer and her family found her diagnosis of an E coli infection difficult to understand.
‘She was a vegan who took great pains with food preparation.
‘As a family they were extremely hygiene conscious.
‘When Ms Farmer became ill, her family members wanted to understand what had happened and to keep themselves as safe as possible.’
The coroner said someone from public health – which she assumed was UKHSA – spoke to Ms Farmer the day before she died, but she was in intensive care and not able to give a full picture.
Ms Hassell continued: ‘There was apparently no exploration of potential contact with animals or water sports and I was told that only scant details of a recent restaurant visit were obtained.
‘The UKHSA did not at any stage ask (redacted name) for information to assist in attempting to determine the source of the E coli infection that ultimately killed his wife.
‘If asked, Mr Farmer would have explained that on 6 April 2024, not only did he and his wife visit a local restaurant, they also had drinks at a nearby club, and they had recently eaten and drunk at local military establishments.’
The coroner said Mr Farmer was given no advice about how to keep himself and their child safe.
He cleaned their bathroom in the belief his wife would be coming home, but did not use PPE.
He later became unwell, but did not know if he had put himself at risk and was terrified their child would be orphaned.
The clinicians who treated her told the inquest they did not know if the E coli source had ever been identified.
Mr Farmer saw a local news report that there had been a local E coli outbreak in Waverley, Surrey, but his efforts to get basic information from the public health authorities was frustrated.
The coroner said in her report: ‘This cannot inspire public confidence and seems a very offhand way to treat a grieving relative.’
The inquest did not hear from the UKHSA, because the coroner said she would have expected it would have shared relevant information with both clinicians and family.
She concluded: ‘It may be therefore, that there are explanations for what seem to be surprising actions and inactions.
‘If that is the case, then of course you will be able to explain as much in your response.’
The report has been sent to the UKHSA chief executive and the medical director at the UCLH hospital and she expects a response with actions to be taken within 56 days.