Lady Joan Branson, the wife of billionaire Richard Branson, died at 80 from a pulmonary embolism that a British coroner has concluded likely would have been prevented had she received medication to prevent blood clots, according to reports.
Lady Branson was admitted to the hospital in November 2025 following a fall weeks earlier on Necker Island, a British Virgin Island owned by her husband. Her cause of death was determined to be a pulmonary embolism caused by deep vein thrombosis (DVT), in which a blood clot travels to the lungs and blocks an artery, the BBC reported.
Coroner's Findings on Preventable Death
Senior coroner Fiona Wilcox told Westminster Coroner’s Court earlier this month that Lady Branson did not receive preventive anticoagulants, commonly known as blood thinners, at the hospital despite a “very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis,” according to the outlet.
Testimony during the legal inquest indicated that Lady Branson’s biggest risk factors included her immobility after a fracture following her fall.
“I do find her death would have likely been prevented and the lack of anticoagulation did cause or contribute to her death probably,” Wilcox said.
Wilcox added, however, that the case was not one of neglect because Branson did receive medical care. The inquest, she said, was to “explore the facts, come to the correct conclusions and learn lessons from this,” The Independent reported.
Differing Medical Testimony on Bleeding Risk
During the inquest, doctors gave differing testimony about whether bleeding risk justified withholding the medication, namely enoxaparin, an injectable blood thinner commonly used to help prevent blood clots in hospitalized patients.
The hospital’s admitting doctor, Dr. Basir Kunduzi, testified that he did not complete a bleeding risk assessment on the day of Lady Branson’s admission.
Kunduzi said Lady Branson’s death led him to “reflect on [his] role as a doctor” and the importance of “good communication between team members,” according to the BBC.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the hospital for comment.
The Role of Blood Thinners in Hospital Care
The findings highlight the lifesaving role of blood thinners, which are often used in hospitals to help prevent DVT in patients who are unable to move normally after surgery, fractures or prolonged bed rest. They can increase the risk of bleeding, however, so doctors must weigh both risks before giving them.
Nearly all hospitalized adults should receive some form of blood clot prevention, either with blood-thinning medication or mechanical devices that help keep blood flowing in the legs, Dr. Jared Ross, a South Carolina-based emergency medicine physician, told Fox News Digital.
“In the vast majority of cases, the benefits outweigh the risks,” Ross, who was not involved in the inquest or Branson’s care, added.
Family Statement and Richard Branson's Tribute
A spokeswoman for Sir Branson said the family does not plan to comment on the inquest and pointed to the numerous social media posts he has made for his wife.
“Life will never be the same without her,” Branson wrote on Instagram last year, calling her the “shining star” of the family. “But we have fifty incredible years of memories — years filled with tears and laughter, kindness, and a love that shaped our family more than words could ever capture. It was a relationship that worked. We just had lots of laughs. We were very lucky.”
Symptoms and When to Seek Help
Although pulmonary embolisms can be life-threatening, prompt treatment greatly improves the chances of survival, making early recognition critical.
Symptoms of DVT can include swelling, pain or tenderness, warmth and redness in the affected leg or arm, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a clot travels to the lungs, may cause shortness of breath, chest pain that worsens with deep breathing or coughing, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, coughing up blood, lightheadedness or fainting.
The CDC and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say anyone with symptoms of a pulmonary embolism should seek immediate medical attention.
