Joan Branson Died of Blood Clot, Inquest to Follow

Lady Joan Sarah Drummond Branson, the 80-year-old wife of Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson, died from a blood clot on November 24, 2023, at London Bridge Hospital in London, coroners confirmed during a pre-inquest review hearing.

The clot developed two weeks after Joan Branson suffered a back injury from a fall. Her family, including Sir Richard and daughter Holly Branson, attended the hearing at Inner West London Coroners Court and emphasized they were not seeking to blame medical staff. Holly Branson, 44, told the court, "I believe mum had great care. The doctors saved her life three years ago, giving us all three more years together. We just want to help other families if there are any lessons to be learned."

Senior Coroner Professor Fiona Wilcox outlined that a full inquest, set for September, will investigate key factors. These include whether Lady Branson was wearing ThromboEmbolus Deterrent (TED) stockings, which help prevent clots during periods of inactivity, and if anticoagulant medication such as Heparin should have been prescribed. An expert haematologist will review her case, considering her history of blood clots dating back to at least 2010.