A mother-of-two who was found dead in bed by her 16-year-old daughter was taking ‘skinny drops’ after gaining weight while battling cancer, her family said.
Sarah Thompson, 34, was looking forward to going to a concert and bought a new outfit before she died suddenly in the middle of the night in September.
She had previously overcome throat cancer and in 2018 she had her larynx removed. This left her mute for eight months and made it difficult for her to exercise. Despite this, she was described by friends as ‘full of life’.
However, she was tragically found dead by her teenager Paige, days after she started vomiting. The cause of death of Mrs Thompson, from Connah’s Quay, North Wales, has not been announced.
But her devastated family believe she died because she was taking slimming drops, desperate to shed pounds and ‘depressed’ about the way she looked. Within a month she lost three and a half stone.
According to her, she felt like she could ‘take on the world’ ITV.
Just days before she died, the mother called her sister Gabriella and was sick on the phone and unable to keep food down.
Her younger sister, 26, wanted Mrs Thompson to go to hospital but she thought she could cope.
Sarah Thompson, 34, was found dead in her bed by her 16-year-old daughter
Her devastated family believe she died because she took slimming drops (pictured)
Mrs Thompson even bought a bottle for her sister Gabriella (pictured), but she stopped taking it after experiencing body tremors and a racing heart
They had recently discussed their concerns about the risks of taking the drops.
The grieving family said Mrs Thompson did not meet NHS requirements for injections to help her lose weight, so she looked for a ‘fat-burning serum’.
Mrs Thompson even bought a bottle for Gabriella, but she stopped taking it after experiencing body tremors and a racing heart.
She told ITV that her sister said: ‘Gabby just ride through it because in the end you will be grateful for it.’
“No family should have to feel the pain we feel.”
ITV sent one of the bottles of drops to be tested, which confirmed they contained Clenbuterol. This is a class C controlled steroid type drug.
Gabriella told ITV: ‘No, I don’t think she did [know what was in them]because she wanted to be skinny so badly.
‘I don’t think she would have taken them if she knew exactly what was in them and there was a risk she would never see her children again, I know she wouldn’t have done that.’
The grieving family said Mrs Thompson didn’t meet NHS requirements for injections to help her lose weight, so she sought out a ‘fat-burning serum’
Ms Thompson’s cause of death has not been released
The mother-of-two had previously beaten cancer and was looking forward to going out
Her mother Gail previously said: ‘She was very popular and had a huge group of friends. We had people lay a lot of flowers outside the house, which showed how many people she knew.
“She definitely loved going to concerts. There was a time when I picked her up from a festival and she was there with four people she knew who said they needed a lift too, she was always trying to help people.
‘She was due to go to the O2 Academy in Liverpool on Tuesday. She had bought a new outfit especially for it.
‘Sarah was a very smart woman, outgoing and bubbly. She was very generous and always lent people money when they needed it.”