Heartbreaking kind gesture led to Dawn Sturgess' death amid Salisbury poisonings
Dawn Sturgess was the innocent victim of a horrific poisoning that stunned the entire world.
The mother-of-three became collateral damage to a massive global political event that exploded on her doorstep six years ago.
And it was a heartbreaking kind gesture amid a chain of terrifying events that led to Dawn's tragic death. Former Russian military intelligence officer Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found semi-conscious on a park bench in Salisbury in March 2018.
Both had been poisoned by the deadly nerve agent Novichok, but against all the odds regained consciousness and had both left hospital by May. However, almost four months after the Skripal's were poisoned - more unintended victims were fighting for their lives.
Dawn Sturgess tragically died after being poisoned by Novichok (AFP/Getty Images)Charlie Rowley found a perfume bottle in a charity shop bin in Amesbury, Wiltshire, and gave it to Dawn, his girlfriend, as a loving gift on 30 June 2018.
House where retired Russian spy was poisoned with Novichok is sold
The perfume bottle - disguised as 'Premier Jour' - was sealed in hard plastic and Charlie said he had to use a kitchen knife to get to it.
Dawn sprayed what was inside the bottle on her wrists, rubbing them together, and within 15 minutes, she was fitting and foaming at the mouth.
"Within 15 minutes, Dawn said she had a headache. She asked me if I had any headache tablets. In that time she said she felt peculiar and needed to lie down in the bath. I went into the bathroom and found her in the bath, fully clothed, in a very ill state," Charlie told ITV News.
At 10.15am, an ambulance was called to their home after Dawn collapsed and was immediately rushed to hospital.
This would be the last time that she ever saw her boyfriend.
Images of the counterfeit perfume box found by Charlie Rowley (SWNS.com)Five hours later, they were called again when Charlie fell ill and was also taken straight to hospital.
Dawn's grieving parents revealed the heartbreaking instruction they were given as she lay dying.
Devastated Stan and Caroline Sturgess say they were told they had to wear gloves when they visited their unconscious daughter in hospital.
And while they were permitted to touch her body with their gloved hands, they were instructed not to brush their own faces or skin afterwards.
Caroline, a retired civil servant, couldn't even wipe a tear away from her daughter's face.
Man who lost partner and home in Salisbury poisonings plans to sue Russia
“At one point I was stroking [Dawn's] hair and I started crying," she bravely recalled, breaking her silence on the poisoning to The Guardian.
"I went to wipe a tear away. A consultant told me: 'Don’t touch your face'."
Dawn sadly died on July 8 in hospital when doctors took the decision to switch off her life support.
Charlie Rowley also ended up in hospital but regained consciousness (Roland Leon/Sunday Mirror)Two days later, Charlie regained consciousness and was discharged on 20 July, but has suffered physically and mentally ever since.
Tragically, Dawn was about to reconcile with her son Ewan as they had started to make peace after a falling out.
"I can’t get the image of her on the machines out of my head. I keep picturing myself stroking her hair thinking she was going to die," said Dawn's mum, Caroline.
Prime Minister Theresa May said she was "appalled and shocked" by the death of Dawn (Getty)Even after Dawn's passing, her parents were dealt more heartbreak.
They were told their daughter's body may have to be incinerated at the Porton Down government laboratory, according to the newspaper.
Fortunately, this didn't have to happen in the end.
Instead, Dawn was laid to rest at a funeral at Salisbury Crematorium, after her coffin was carried there in a hearse with flowers spelling out "mum".
Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire police and crime commissioner, said Dawn "was an innocent member of the public...who became an unwilling victim in such an unprecedented, international incident".
Prime Minister at the time, Theresa May said: "I am appalled and shocked by the death of Dawn Sturgess, and my thoughts and condolences go to her family and loved ones.
"Police and security officials are working urgently to establish the facts of this incident, which is now being investigated as a murder.
"The Government is committed to providing full support to the local community as it deals with this tragedy."
The flat where tragic Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess fell ill is to be demolished (Solent News & Photo Agency)Following the horror attack, Metropolitan Police identified three suspects wanted in connection with the poisonings: Denis Sergeev, Alexander Mishkin and Anatoliy Chepiga, who used the aliases Sergey Fedotov, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov respectively while in the UK.
A public inquiry into the death of Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess will start in October.
Russia has always denied that the Kremlin was involved.
Charlie Rowley was devastated by the loss of Dawn (Sunday Mirror)While Charlie recovered, he continues to suffer physically and mentally with severe affects to the poisoning.
Charlie believes his exposure to novichok has compromised his sight, balance and immune system and he struggles to sleep at night as the horror of Sturgess’s death swirls around his mind.
He feels the authorities are not being transparent and has spoken about his frustration.
“I feel like we’re being kept in the dark about what really happened,” Rowley previously told the Guardian.
“I will go down every avenue if I have to. Of course I want to find out the truth. There are still no answers to the real questions.”
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