Brain damage fear for Novichok poison mum
NOVICHOK victim Dawn Sturgess suffered a heart attack and may have brain damage, her son has revealed.
Ewan Hope, 19, said his 44-year-old mother is only alive because of quickthinking paramedics.
Ms Sturgess and partner Charlie Rowley, 45, were struck down by the nerve agent last Saturday and still fighting for life in hospital last night.
They were exposed to the Novichok used to attack former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, Wiltshire, in March.
Ewan said after seeing his mother in hospital: “The doctor said it was Novichok because she had the same symptoms as the Skripals, including foaming at the mouth.
“It’s worse for mum, though, as the Skripals didn’t have heart attacks.”
He added he wore gloves up to his elbows to stroke her hair and hold her hand. He said: “I told her, ‘I love you, mum. I just want you to wake up’.”
Last night a police officer also thought to have shown symptoms of Novichok poisoning was given the allclear at Salisbury District Hospital.
Forensic experts are probing the hostel where mother-of-three Ms Sturgess lives in Salisbury and Mr Rowley’s flat in nearby Amesbury. Police have not ruled out more people being stricken by poison left behind after the Skripals were targeted.
One theory is that Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley found the container Russian assassins used to carry the nerve agent in the Skripal attack.
Recovering drug addict Mr Rowley is said to have foraged for goods to fix and sell. He is also said to have picked up discarded cigarettes.
Public Health England says there is no immediate health risk. But it has advised people who visited suspect areas to wash the clothes they wore.
They should also use baby wipes to clean mobile phones and handbags.