Greek heiress found dead in London flat after being treated for insect bite, family says

A 28-year-old Greek heiress was found dead in her London flat on Sept. 11 after family members said she had been turned away by two hospitals despite developing symptoms following an insect bite, her mother told Greek media.

Marissa Laimou, also known as Lemos, was discovered lifeless in bed by her housekeeper. Her mother, Bessy, said Laimou had been unwell for days, experiencing dizziness, itching, fever and other signs of infection before her death.

Family accounts and local reports say a doctor who visited Laimou at home initially prescribed paracetamol when symptoms first appeared. She later saw her oncologist, who arranged for an ambulance to take her to a hospital in London. Relatives and friends said nurses — rather than doctors — examined her at that hospital and concluded she did not need admission, discharging her in the early evening with antibiotics and a diagnosis that referenced an insect bite.

Laimou’s mother told Greek media that toxic shock caused by an insect bite killed her daughter, saying, "My daughter had survived cancer and died from an insect." The type of insect and the precise medical cause of death were not confirmed publicly.

An autopsy has not yet been completed, and relatives have said they will not have definitive answers until the post-mortem is finished. Laimou’s aunt said the family was awaiting the coroner’s findings.

The hospital involved has reportedly acknowledged a serious mistake and opened an internal investigation, according to media reports. Family members have questioned the level of care provided during the hospital visits, and their accounts say she was discharged after the assessment.

Laimou had recently recovered from breast cancer, relatives and friends said. She was active in London’s theatre scene, having staged a production of Romeo and Juliet and preparing another project. She previously worked in Paris with fashion designers Sonia Rykiel and John Galliano and founded Rainbow Wave, a company that helped introduce international brands to London stores.

The Laimos family is one of the better-known names in Greek shipping, with business roots dating to the early 20th century. Friends described Laimou as talented, modest and devoted to the arts.

Authorities have said the cause of death will be determined by the post-mortem examination and further medical inquiry. Until the autopsy and any official hospital findings are published, the precise medical sequence leading to Laimou’s death remains unconfirmed.