Winnersh husband seeks answers after wife’s death from insect bite

Mandy Weaver, who was from the Berkshire village, died aged 48 in October 2018 after a small bite on her leg developed into severe wounds that left her increasingly immobile and reliant on family support.

Her husband, Mark, said the problems began in the summer of 2017 while the couple were working in their garden.

A woman tragically died after a tiny insect bite on her leg developed into horrific weeping wounds with maggots. Mandy Weaver was just 48 when she died in October 2018, after many months of suffering with increasingly severe wounds on her legs.Her husband Mark, 54, says Mandy repeatedly attended her local GP surgery as her condition deteriorated, but the underlying cause of her worsening symptoms was not properly investigated. The condition became so bad that they had to put puppy pads under her legs to catch the leaking fluid and maggots had to be removed. (Image: Fletchers Solicitors)

What initially appeared to be a minor insect bite soon became painful and began leaking fluid.

Mandy attended Westfield Road Surgery in Winnersh for treatment, where her symptoms were repeatedly treated as an infection, according to Mark.

Over the following months, her condition worsened and eventually affected both legs.

Mandy Weaver’s legs. // A woman tragically died after a tiny insect bite on her leg developed into horrific weeping wounds with maggots. Mandy Weaver was just 48 when she died in October 2018, after many months of suffering with increasingly severe wounds on her legs.Her husband Mark, 54, says Mandy repeatedly attended her local GP surgery as her condition deteriorated, but the underlying cause of her worsening symptoms was not properly investigated. The condition became so bad that they had to put puppy pads under her legs to catch the leaking fluid and maggots had to be removed. (Image: Fletchers Solicitors / SWNS)

Mark said the wounds would improve for short periods before deteriorating again.

By early 2018, he said fluid was leaking so heavily from Mandy’s legs that it would pool on the floor when she stood.

The family resorted to placing puppy pads beneath her legs to absorb the fluid.

As her mobility declined, Mandy became increasingly dependent on relatives.

She stopped working as a supermarket cleaner and rarely left the house, while family members helped with shopping and day-to-day tasks.

Mark said the condition had a profound impact on his wife’s confidence and dignity.

By the summer of 2018, the pain had become so severe that she would regularly cry out in discomfort.

Mark said he repeatedly suggested seeking further medical help but Mandy remained hopeful that her condition would improve.

Mandy Weaver’s legs. // A woman tragically died after a tiny insect bite on her leg developed into horrific weeping wounds with maggots. Mandy Weaver was just 48 when she died in October 2018, after many months of suffering with increasingly severe wounds on her legs.Her husband Mark, 54, says Mandy repeatedly attended her local GP surgery as her condition deteriorated, but the underlying cause of her worsening symptoms was not properly investigated. The condition became so bad that they had to put puppy pads under her legs to catch the leaking fluid and maggots had to be removed. (Image: Fletchers Solicitors / SWNS)

In September 2018, medical records noted that maggots had developed in one of the wounds and had to be removed.

Mandy was subsequently referred to a tissue viability nurse and given an appointment for October 15.

However, on October 12 that year, Mark and Mandy’s brother, Brian, returned home to find her collapsed on the upstairs landing.

A coroner later concluded that she had died from a deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which caused a pulmonary embolism.

Mark, who had been with Mandy since 1990 and married her in 2010, described her as “the head of our family”.

“There is no reason she shouldn’t be here today,” he said.

“After spending every day with her for over 30 years, I just never expected to be without her.”

Mark and Mandy Weaver. // A woman tragically died after a tiny insect bite on her leg developed into horrific weeping wounds with maggots. Mandy Weaver was just 48 when she died in October 2018, after many months of suffering with increasingly severe wounds on her legs.Her husband Mark, 54, says Mandy repeatedly attended her local GP surgery as her condition deteriorated, but the underlying cause of her worsening symptoms was not properly investigated. The condition became so bad that they had to put puppy pads under her legs to catch the leaking fluid and maggots had to be removed. (Image: Fletchers Solicitors / SWNS)

Following her death, Mark brought a clinical negligence claim against some clinicians involved in her care, alleging opportunities to investigate and treat the underlying cause of her condition were missed.

Mark said the family had pursued the claim in the hope of securing answers about Mandy’s death, adding that losing her had “torn the entire family apart”.

NHS Thames Valley, which oversees the surgery, was approached for comment.