Sarah Hooper
Published December 3, 2025 12:17pm
Updated December 3, 2025 12:18pm
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Jemima contracted the potentially deadly disease while travelling (Picture: Social Media)
An Olympic hopeful and daughter of a British billionaire was airlifted from Colombia after being diagnosed with sepsis, it’s been revealed.
21-year-old Jemima Howden, daughter of billionaire insurance boss David Howden, was travelling in South America when she was struck down with the infection.
Doctors transported her to Miami for urgent treatment, where she remained for over a week while her condition stabilised.
Jemima posted a photo of herself in a stretcher while being transported, writing: ‘Very happy to be back home after a scary week in hospital after getting sick whilst being away… Thank you to my INSANE family & friends – you are all legends.’
A spokesperson for the Howden family added: ‘On a recent holiday to Colombia with friends, Jemima Howden was taken ill with suspected sepsis.
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‘She received immediate medical attention in Colombia and was then evacuated back home to the UK, where she has made a quick recovery. The Howden family is extremely grateful for the support of the medical professionals involved at all stages of Jemima’s care.’
David Howden made billions from his empire (Picture: Shutterstock)
Jemima is also an aspiring Olympic equestrian, having represented Team GB at the European Championships and sharing her hopes of reaching Los Angeles in 2028.
‘There’s such talent in the British team that it would be very tough, but I think going to the Olympics and representing your country would be an amazing achievement,’ she said.
What is sepsis?
Sepsis happens when the body faces a severe viral or bacterial infection (Picture: Getty)
Sepsis is an infection of the blood which causes the body to create a strong immune response.
It can occur in any part of the body when there’s an infection, and is particularly common if you’ve just had surgery or after an injury.
Sepsis symptoms in older children and adults
- A high temperature, fever or low temperature
- Chills and shivering
- A fast heartbeat
- Fast breathing
Severe sepsis or septic shock
- Feeling dizzy or faint
- Change in mental state, such as confusion or disorientation
- Diarrhoea
- Nausea and vomiting
- Slurred speech
- Severe muscle pain
- Severe breathlessness
- Less urine than normal – or even none at all for one day
- Cold, clammy, pale or mottled skin
- Loss of consciousness
Source: NHS
Where sepsis is suspected, a blood sample may be taken and tested. Heart rate, temperature and breathing rate will also be tested and used to get a diagnosis.
It is important to treat sepsis as early as possible to try an catch it before it affects vital organs in the body. Usually, antibiotics are prescribed, which can be taken at home.
People who are treated for sepsis early on usually make a good recovery with no lasting problems.
What is Howden’s?
Jemima’s family is one of the richest in Britain, operating Howden’s in 55 different countries and receiving a CBE.
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Her father, David, created his company in 1994 in a small one-room office with three employees, including a dog.
Within ten years, the company was operating out of Spain, India and Australia, and later Dubai, Asia, and more.
Today, Howden’s is worth an estimated £4.3 billion, with billions worth of revenue reported each year as well.
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