'Vegan, hygiene-obsessed' mother dies after horrific E. coli infection – her husband pays tribute to the 'powerful woman'

The husband of a vegan mother who was “hygiene-obsessed” and died of a horrific E. coli infection has paid his last respects to her.

Laura Farmer, 46, died in a London hospital in April after being diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).

Her husband Steve Farmer, with whom she was married for 14 years, wrote about the “powerful woman” in a touching tribute after her tragic death and told the story of how the two met.

In a post on April 30, he revealed how he sold her a bike and then went running on their first date before proposing to her a few months later – with a ring that didn't fit.

He wrote: “We traveled the world, we bought a house, she taught me to scuba dive, we learned to ski.

“She gave birth [our son]a daredevil full of fun and kindness, and we started our next episode.

“I opened many a bottle of champagne for her, she called it an attitude changer, a sundowner or just something like that!

“We figured out the parenting as we went along. That's a lie, she did the research, wrote lists and mastered it with flying colors.”

But he announced that he had lost “the most wonderful woman far too soon” last Friday.

He added: “In honor of Laura, look at the ducklings, write your affirmations, make healthy choices, break them!

“Enjoy a sundowner and enjoy every second of your trip.

“She laughed, smiled and nodded as she chose my picture… warm sea full of fish, sun on her back, drinking sundowners and getting the P out of me.”

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Mary Hassell, coroner for Inner North London, said Laura had been very particular about food hygiene and the family had found the E. coli diagnosis “difficult to understand”.

The coroner added: “She was a vegan who took great care in preparing her food.

“As a family, they were extremely hygiene conscious.

“When Ms. Farmer became ill, her family members wanted to understand what had happened and protect themselves as best they could.”

At the inquest, a jury concluded that Laura Farmer died of a stroke caused by an E. coli infection.

Mrs Farmer was admitted to University College Hospital on 20 April and was diagnosed with HUS caused by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

When she was thought to be “recovering,” she suffered an unexpected stroke and, despite best efforts, died as a result, according to the Prevention of Future Deaths Report.

The coroner listed causes for concern and said there was a risk of further deaths “unless action is taken”.

She wrote: “After his wife’s diagnosis, Mr Farmer received no advice on how to protect himself and their child.

“He was cleaning the bathroom while waiting for his wife to return, but he was not using any personal protective equipment.

“When he later became ill, he did not know whether he had put himself in danger.

“After hearing his account in court, I believe it is no exaggeration to say that at the time he was very afraid that his own actions could result in his child becoming an orphan.

“The doctors who treated Mrs. Farmer testified at the inquest that they did not know whether the source of the infection from which she died had ever been identified.”

Among the concerns that were close to her heart, the coroner wrote that someone from “public health (I assume the UKHSA)” had spoken to her the day before Laura’s death.

They asked for information, but she was in intensive care and could not give a complete, detailed picture.

“Possible animal contact or water sports were apparently not investigated and I was told that only sparse information was available regarding a recent restaurant visit,” she wrote.