Coroner: Lady Branson's Death Could Have Been Avoided With Blood Thinners

A British coroner has stated the death of Richard Branson's wife, Lady Joan Branson, might have been avoided if she had received blood-clot prevention medication.

Lady Branson passed away at 80 after being admitted to a hospital in November 2025. This followed a fall on Necker Island earlier that month. The island is owned by her billionaire husband in the British Virgin Islands.

Her cause of death was a pulmonary embolism. A deep vein thrombosis sent a blood clot to her lungs, blocking an artery, according to reports from the BBC.

Senior Coroner Fiona Wilcox told Westminster Coroner's Court earlier this month that Lady Branson did not get preventive anticoagulants at the hospital. These are commonly known as blood thinners. She faced a very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis, yet she received none.

Testimony during the legal inquest showed her biggest risks came from immobility after a fracture from her fall.

"I do find her death would have likely been prevented," Wilcox said. "The lack of anticoagulation did cause or contribute to her death probably."

Wilcox added that this was not a case of neglect because Branson did receive medical care. The inquest aimed to explore facts, reach correct conclusions, and learn lessons from the situation.

Doctors gave differing views on whether bleeding risk justified withholding medication. They discussed enoxaparin, an injectable blood thinner used to prevent clots in hospitalized patients.

Dr. Basir Kunduzi was the hospital's admitting doctor. He testified he did not complete a bleeding risk assessment on the day of Lady Branson's admission.

Kunduzi said her death led him to reflect on his role as a doctor. He also emphasized the importance of good communication between team members.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the hospital for comment.

The findings highlight the lifesaving role of blood thinners. Hospitals use them to help prevent DVT in patients unable to move normally after surgery, fractures, or prolonged bed rest. These drugs can increase bleeding risk, so doctors must weigh both sides before giving them.

Nearly all hospitalized adults should receive some form of blood clot prevention. This could be with medication or mechanical devices that keep blood flowing in the legs. Dr. Jared Ross is a South Carolina-based emergency medicine physician who told Fox News Digital this.

"In the vast majority of cases, the benefits outweigh the risks," Ross added. He was not involved in the inquest or Branson's care.

A spokeswoman for Sir Branson said the family does not plan to comment on the inquest. They pointed to numerous social media posts he has made for his wife.

"Life will never be the same without her," Branson wrote on Instagram last year. He called 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." That is how one patient described narrowly escaping death from a life-threatening condition. Although pulmonary embolisms can kill quickly, prompt treatment greatly improves the chances of survival. Making early recognition critical remains the only real defense against this danger.

Symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, or DVT, often start in a single limb. Swelling, pain, or tenderness can appear in the affected leg or arm. The skin may feel warm to the touch and turn red. These signs are warning shots from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A pulmonary embolism occurs when a clot travels from the veins up into the lungs. This blockage causes shortness of breath that feels sudden and sharp. Chest pain worsens with deep breathing or coughing. A rapid or irregular heartbeat might follow. Worse, some people begin coughing up blood. Lightheadedness or fainting can also strike without warning.

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The CDC and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute agree on one thing: anyone with symptoms of a pulmonary embolism should seek immediate medical attention. Do not wait to see if it passes. Time matters when blood clots are involved.