Joan Branson's life could have been saved if doctors had prescribed her medication for a 'massive' blood clot on one of her lungs, an inquest heard. 

Sir Richard Branson's wife passed away aged 80 on November 24, 2025, at hospital following complications caused by a back injury she suffered weeks earlier.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard on Wednesday she died after suffering a pulmonary embolism, a sudden, dangerous blockage in a lung artery, resulting from deep vein thrombosis.

Lady Branson was admitted to The Lister Hospital in Chelsea on November 17 after a fall at the family's luxury Necker Island retreat, owned by her billionaire husband.

The 80-year-old had a history of blood clots dating back to 2018, and previously received jabs of an anti-clotting drug when flying and during previous hospital admissions.

But Professor Fiona Wilcox, senior coroner for Inner West London, told today's inquest that Lady Branson did not receive prophylactic anticoagulants, in particular Enoxaparin injections, prior to her death despite there being a 'very high risk of developing deep vein thrombosis'.

Giving her conclusion, the coroner said: 'I do find her death would have likely been prevented and the lack of anticoagulation did cause or contribute to her death probably.'

She added: 'This 80-year-old lady was admitted to the Lister Hospital on November 17, 2025 following a GP referral after persistent pain following a fall at home two weeks earlier. Sadly she passed away in hospital on November 24.' 

Lady Branson's daughter, Dr Holly Branson, sent an email to the court ahead of the inquest in which she expressed concern at how her mother was treated in hospital, but did not want to 'attribute blame to any individual doctor'. 

She questioned why her mother was not offered the medication, which she was said to have been 'accustomed to', and refused to accept that Lady Branson refused to take it. 

Dr Branson explained that Lady Branson used the anti-blood clot injections 'extensively while flying and during previous hospital admissions' and always took them when advised. 

She added: 'The suggestion she refused Enoxaparin due to prior pain or bleeding concerns is not consistent with her usual practice or attitude.'

Dr Branson said that while she was at her mother's side during the first two days, Enoxaparin 'was never offered'.

'Had I been aware she was not receiving Enoxaparin injections I would have been very concerned given her recent long haul travel and medical history,' she added.

Dr Branson added that unless 'the bleeding risk' outweighed the benefit of busting clots, 'I would have asked my mother to take it'.

She also claimed her mother had not been given anti-clot stockings to wear for up to 48 hours after her admission to hospital.