An animal trainer who worked on the Harry Potter films has become the latest swine flu victim.
Caroline Lois Benoist, 26, died on the Christmas weekend, only days after being sent home from her job at a film studio when she complained of feeling unwell
Writing to friends on her Facebook page on December 17, her final posting read: ‘Loving being back home even if I do feel like death warmed up!’. She died just over a week later.
From the home they shared in Hemel Hempstead her French boyfriend Guillaume Grange confirmed that doctors believe ‘fit and healthy’ Miss Benoist was a victim of swine flu. ‘She was sent home from work feeling unwell. She died last weekend. I am finding it all very difficult,’ he said.
'Popular': Caroline Lois Benoist, 26
‘She was a lovely, fit healthy girl. She had no health problems. There was nothing wrong with her.’
Posting on Facebook, he wrote: ‘Thank you everybody for all this support. This [sic] messages warm up my heart. Goodbye Caroline, I will love you for ever!!!!’.
Originally from Guernsey, Miss Benoist had worked for Birds & Animals UK, which provides animal talent for films and TV, for the past seven years.
She was working at Leavesden Film Studios near Watford when she was sent home last month. During her time with the company, she worked on the Harry Potter franchise, as well as other big-budget productions.
The stars of the Potter films, who returned to Leavesden Studios last month for some final re-shoots of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part Two, are said to be devastated by the loss of the popular animal trainer.
Studio bosses are now considering vaccinating workers at the site for swine flu following the death. Miss Benoist spent the last six months in Northern Ireland, working on the set of Game of Thrones, an upcoming medieval fantasy television series which is set to debut in America this spring.
She returned to England in mid-December and was at Leavesden Studios for only a day when she was taken ill.
A workmate described Miss Benoist as the ‘perfect colleague’ who was extremely popular on set. She specialised in working with dogs, but also trained a wide range of other animals.
The colleague said: ‘Caroline was extremely popular. We are a close-knit team of animal lovers. She was just great with the animals, and great with people. We are all just shocked, it’s just a massive loss.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1343544/Swine-flu-alert-As-Christmas-holidays-end-doctors-warn-childrens-epidemic.html#ixzz1A7FejrdK
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