Family of Greek heiress questions two-week post-mortem delay after London death

London — The family of Marissa Laimou, a 30-year-old Greek heiress and theatre actress, says they have waited more than two weeks for a post-mortem after she was found dead at their Knightsbridge townhouse on Sept. 11. They say a post-mortem is now expected to take place today, which would enable the return of her body for funerals in London and in Athens.

Known also as Marissa Lemos, she belonged to one of Greece's best-known shipping dynasties. Born and raised in London, she pursued theatre and had recently performed in Romeo and Juliet in the capital. She studied musical theatre in New York before returning to London in 2018, and she had been active in the city’s theatre scene. Family members have said she had battled breast cancer in 2023 and a rare blood disorder known as HLH, but they described her in recent months as healthy and enjoying life.

In the days before her death, Marissa reported dizziness, itching and a high fever. She sought care at two London hospitals, including Leaders in Oncology Care (LOC) on Harley Street, where she received fluids and antibiotics. Given the seriousness of her condition, staff arranged for an ambulance transfer to University College London Hospital (UCLH). There, nurses carried out blood tests and provided treatment, but relatives say no doctor examined her in person and that she was discharged around 6:30 p.m. with antibiotics to take home. She died the following morning and a housekeeper found her in bed.

Family members have raised concerns about the care she received at UCLH and have hired lawyers to pursue civil medical negligence claims against the NHS trust, saying there was no in-person physician assessment and that critical signs were not adequately addressed. A relative told the Daily Mail that a doctor did not examine Marissa and that nurses performed the initial tests before a doctor reviewed them remotely. The family says the case remains unresolved while officials have attributed her symptoms to a toxic effect from an animal or insect bite, a determination they say requires a formal post-mortem.

Authorities have not released a formal cause of death. The Inner West London Coroner's Court said it is handling the sudden death and investigations are ongoing. A relative described a different pace of post-mortem practice in Greece, saying a coroner and pathologist in Athens can complete a post-mortem in about two hours, a claim that illustrates contrasting approaches to these investigations.

UCLH issued a statement expressing sadness and offering condolences, adding that it has launched an internal investigation and will provide information required by the coroner’s court as soon as possible. Leaders in Oncology Care also offered condolences and said it would cooperate with authorities. The Daily Mail has contacted LOC for comment.

Locally, a London memorial has been established with a photo and condolence book, and the family plans to bury Marissa in a family tomb in Athens once the post-mortem process is completed and formal arrangements can move forward.

Marissa Laimou, born and raised in London, grew up in Knightsbridge with her twin brothers. She pursued theatre at every opportunity, working as a nursery assistant and a receptionist in addition to her stage work, and she had recently been preparing for a new Oliver! production. Her life included study in New York and time in the United States before returning to the U.K. in 2018. She had overcome serious health battles in 2023, including breast cancer and HLH, and relatives described her as talented and loved by her family and friends. Her father, Diamantis, is a member of the Lemos family, a long-established name in Greek shipping, and her mother, Bessy, has spoken publicly about the family’s grief and desire for answers.

The investigation into Marissa Laimou’s sudden death continues, with the coroner’s court and NHS trust pursuing every avenue to determine what happened and to ensure accountability where appropriate. In the meantime, her relatives say they will press for clarity about the timeline of care, the decisions made at UCLH, and the factors that contributed to her passing.