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Tragedy of Wortley bride in crash diet
A bride-to-be from Wortley died suddenly after shedding more than three stones in 11 weeks on a crash diet.
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Former Leeds University student Samantha Clowe weighed 17 stones and 6lbs when she started the LighterLife low calorie diet regime.
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The 34-year-old told her mum she didn't want to be a "fat bride".
An inquest heard 5ft 9in tall Miss Clowe was "fit and well" and stuck to the plan's 500 calories a day limit.
Miss Clowe was discovered collapsed by fiancee Andrew Smith on the upstairs landing at their home in Oldfield Lane, Wortley, on June 28.
Despite paramedics' attempts to revive her, Miss Clowe was pronounced dead soon after.
Metallurgist Miss Clowe, a researcher for steel company Corus in Rotherham, died hours after driving back from visiting her mother in Barbara in Southport.
In a statement her mother said: "She said she wanted respect at work and didn't want to be a fat bride.
"She was happy to go on it and I think she wanted to surprise me by showing me how much weight she'd lost."
Consultant Home Office pathologist Dr Alfredo Walker said a post-mortem examination failed to establish a cause of death, adding: "But it may be related to her low calorie diet and weight loss."
West Yorkshire Coroner David Hinchliff said it was "highly likely" Miss Clowe died from cardiac arrhythmia, when the heart suddenly stops beating.
Recording a narrative verdict, Mr Hinchliff said Miss Clowe's death was unascertained, adding: "The evidence cannot point one way or the other as to whether her indulging in that diet has in any way caused or contributed to her death."
The court heard Miss Clowe adhered to the LighterLife policy by seeing her GP to get the all clear before starting the diet.
She saw her doctor for two monthly check-ups while on the diet plan.
The court heard she attended LighterLife meetings and ate the very low calorie soup, snack bars and shakes she was given by the company.
A spokesman for LighterLife said: "We were very sad to hear the news about Samantha – however, we must emphasise that the coroner has stated the LighterLife Programme could in no way be associated with her death.
"LighterLife is a clinically monitored programme and has helped 150,000 people lose weight effectively and safely during the past 12 years.
"When she died she was still clinically obese."
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