Brit newlywed died on dream Mexico honeymoon after ‘FISH dinner caused her to have a heart attack’ – just 10 days after getting married
Christine Fensome, from Herefordshire, was on a dream trip to Mexico with her husband Andy Bennetts when she became ill
A NEWLYWED bride died on her honeymoon from a heart attack believed to have been caused by eating fish.
Christine Fensome, 54, was on a dream trip to Mexico with her husband Andy Bennetts, 58, when she became ill during the night on September 27 - just 10 days after her wedding.
Her children have been told the evening before she died Chris ate fish, thought to have contained high levels of mercury, which may have led to her organs shutting down.
It is the second tragedy to hit the family after they lost their dad Craig in 2004, who was killed in a hit-and-run at the age of 41.
Her three children Brad, 33, Richard, 30 and Hayley, 29, say their mother struggled to get over the loss until meeting Andy seven years ago.
related stories
They say Andy taught her to "love again" and the pair tied the knot on September 17 before jetting off on their honeymoon.
Her brother James Bowyer, 49, said the family had been told her fatal sudden illness had been caused by eating a grouper fish contaminated with a toxin from a plankton that is found on coral, algae and seaweed.
He said: "If anything can come from my sister's death it is raising awareness about eating fish abroad. Knowledge appears to be quite limited about ciguatera food poisoning but it can be a hidden killer.
"Due to global warming the toxin is becoming more prevalent and is found on algae on coral reefs in certain parts of the world - including the Gulf of Mexico.
"The algae gets eaten by smaller fish and those fish get eaten by larger fish like groupers and barracudas.
"There are no known tests to detect it and there is no effective treatment for it. So there was nothing Christine could have really done.
"Restaurants over there tend to serve smaller fish as that means smaller the amount of potential toxins.
"Ciguatera poisonings are quite common but deaths are extremely rare. It can cause shooting pains in the chest and in my sisters' case it caused her to have a heart attack."
Daughter Hayley said: "Everyone says to me 'stay focused, stay strong, keep going for your mum and dad.'
"But it is hard. I used to cry to mum that my dad would not be able to walk me down the aisle and she would tell me that she would be there to walk me down the aisle. But now I haven't got anyone.
"She would talk to anyone. People met her once and fell in love with her. She would do anything for any of us.
"She loved her life for us. She tried so hard to be both mum and dad. We can't really grieve our mum as we don't know how [she died] or why."
Christine, from Burghill, Herefordshire, was described as being a "fit and active" regular gym-goer who doted on her five grandchildren.
Hayley said when their father died Christine had struggled to come to terms with the shock and became a recluse.
She added: "Our mum didn't come out of the house for five years. She couldn't get going.
"But she found her feet again slowly and found happiness at the end.
"She just looked beautiful [on her wedding day]. It was a lovely day and the sun was shining."
Son Richard said: "The fact she went from happy to dark times and finally got happiness again and then this.
"It is too much to take in. It is a major shock. Mum stuck us all together. She was the glue and now she has gone."
Christine had started working as an office administrator at Hartwell Ford a few months ago.
She also leaves behind her mum Sybil Bowyer, her brother James Bowyer, and sister Marion Bevan.
Her funeral will be held on October 21 at St Paul's Church in Tupsley, Hereford.
Richard added: "She didn't have the ending she deserved for what she gave to life but she is going to have the farewell she deserves."
WHAT IS CIGUATERA FISH POISONING?
Ciguatera fish poisoning is an illness caused by eating fish that contain toxins produced by algae.
Terrifyingly, the illness has no cure and symptoms such as vomiting, tingling toes and fingers and nausea can last for years.
In rare cases, it triggers respiratory or heart failure which causes death.
The risk is mostly limited to those eating reef fish such as snapper, barracuda and grouper.
Unfortunately, contaminated fish display no effects and so identifying potential instances of contamination is extremely difficult.
It is also heat-resistant, meaning cooking the fish thoroughly does not stop it causing sickness.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368.